This document is one of the earliest sustained attempts to grapple seriously with the Book of Mormon as a text, not as rumor or caricature. Written by Alexander Campbell in 1831 and republished soon after, it represents a moment when Mormonism was still new, and largely not understood. Campbell does not argue from hindsight or modern scholarship.
What follows is blunt and very much a product of its time, but it is also careful in a way later critics often were not. The value of Campbell’s analysis is it shows how early critics immediately recognized the same tensions, anachronisms, and theological contradictions that would resurface again and again. He reads the book closely, measures it against the Bible that it claims to supplement, and treats its internal logic, language, and historical claims as evidence of it's own falsehood
DELUSIONS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK OF MORMON;
WITH AN EXAMINATION OF ITS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EVIDENCES, AND A REFUTATION OF ITS PRETENCES TO DIVINE AUTHORITY.
BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL.
WITH PREFATORY REMARKS, BY JOSHUA V. HIMES.
BOSTON:
BENJAMIN H. GREENE.
1832.
This work was published in 1832 and is in the public domain. It is reproduced here from historical sources with original spelling, punctuation, and formatting preserved where possible.
PREFATORY REMARKS.
It is well known to some of our fellow-citizens, that two preachers of the Mormonites, a fanatical sect, which originated a few years since in the western part of New York, have recently come to this city to propagate their strange and marvellous doctrines.
I
have had several interviews with these men, and have examined their
book, called the ‘Book of Mormon,’ have endeavoured to
acquaint myself with the details of their history and principles,
have put the result of my inquiries in writing, and am satisfied of
the deep error and absurdity of their system, and of its
inefficiency.
After this investigation, I felt a desire to have the system
exposed, immediately in public print. But upon consulting with some
judicious friends upon the subject, it was thought best not to make
public notice of it at that time, as the system was so unreasonable
and ridiculous, that no person of good common sense would believe it.
But having witnessed the progress of the delusion among some
of our respectable citizens, some of whom were considered worthy
members of the religious societies to which they belonged, I have
felt it my indispensable duty, to use my exertion against its
spreading and contaminating influence.
However strange to relate, about fifteen persons, in this city have been led away by
these false doctrines, have been baptised and joined the Mormon
church. And some of these persons have set out for the promised land,
the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and for all the Gentile
world, who will take warning and flee thither for safety.
Two individuals who have gone, are defenceless females. They
had acquired by their hard industry $2300, one of them having $800,
the other $1500, which they have given up to go into the general
stock. One of these females was in a consumption, and her friends
thought she would not live to reach her destined place. Her afflicted
sister told me, that if she had been buried here, before she had been
led away by these errors, and had left satisfactory evidence that she
was prepared to die, her grief would have been far less than it is
now. The remaining persons who were baptised and joined the church,
contemplate going to the west, possess between $3000 and $4000, which
they also are going to put with the general fund, and which they can
never draw out again, should they get sick of Mormonism and wish to
return home to their friends.
Thus are our friends swindled out of their property and
drawn from their comfortable homes, to endure the perils of a journey
about two thousand miles, by these ignorant fanatics; and when
arrived at their earthly paradise, to become the miserable dupes of
these temporal and spiritual lords.
In view of these evils, and after waiting impatiently for
some time, hoping that some person better qualified than myself to do
justice to the subject, would undertake it; but not hearing of any, I
had concluded to publish the result of my inquiries of these men,
with some strictures upon their book. But at this time I was informed
by a friend, that a faithful review of the book had been published by
one of the most able writers in our country. I immediately sent 600
miles for the review, and have received and perused it. In my
apprehension it is the best thing that can be written upon the
subject, and will be of inestimable use in preventing and rescuing
many from the evils of Mormonism.
This review of Mr. Campbell
came out first in the “Millennial Harbinger,” a monthly
periodical published by him in Bethany, Virginia, under date of
February 7th, 1831. This work is but little known to that class of
persons whom I design to benefit. My object, therefore, in publishing
it in a pamphlet by itself, is to circulate it among the people of
New England, that they may receive the same benefit that the people
of the south and west have, where the above periodical is extensively
circulated. And I doubt not that its gifted author would not only be
willing, but much gratified, in having it thus republished and
circulated.
And with sympathetic feelings for those friends who have
been grieved and afflicted in consequence of the delusion, and to
prevent others from similar trials in future, by having their friends
torn from their embraces, and swindled out of their property, and if
possible, to prevent others from becoming the miserable subjects and
dupes of these singular fanatics, I have determined to republish this
review of Mr. Campbell, with these prefatory remarks; and would
recommend the review to the perusal of my fellow citizens, and an
enlightened public.
Boston, Aug. 14, 1832.
JOSHUA V. HIMES.
DELUSIONS.
Every age of the world has produced impostors and delusions. Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, and were followed by Pharaoh, his court, and clergy. They for some time supported their pretensions, much to the annoyance of the cause of the Israelites and their leader Moses.
To say nothing of the false prophets of the Jewish age,
the diviners, soothsayers, magicians, and all the ministry of idols
among the Gentiles, by which the nations were often deceived, the
impostors which have appeared since the Christian era would fill
volumes of the most lamentable details ever read. The false Messiahs
which have afflicted the Jews since the rejection of Jesus of
Nazareth, have more than verified all the predictions of the Faithful
and True Witness. No less than twenty-four distinguished false
Messiahs have disturbed the Jews. Many were deceived, and myriads
lost their lives through their impostures. Some peculiar epochs were
distinguished for the number and impudence of these impostors. If the
people had fixed upon any year as likely to terminate their
dispersions, and as the period of their return, that year rarely
failed to produce a Messiah. Hence in the twelfth century no less
than ten false Messiahs appeared.
The year 1666, was a year of great expectation, and gave
birth to one of the most remarkable of the false Christs. “Great
multitudes marched from unknown parts, to the remote deserts of
Arabia, and they were supposed to be the ten tribes of Israel, who
had been dispersed for many ages. It was said that a ship was arrived
in the north part of Scotland, with sails and cordage of silk, that
the mariners spoke nothing but Hebrew, and on the sails was this
motto; ‘The Twelve Tribes of Israel.’” Then it was
that Sabbatai Zewi appeared at Smyrna and professed to be the
Messiah. The Jews gave up their business and attended to him. He
obtained one Nathan in Jerusalem to pass for his Elias, or
forerunner. Nathan prophesied for him, and the Jews became very
penitent, and reformed under the expectation that the Messiah would
appear in two years. “Some flattered so long that they
died—some endured melted wax to be dropped on their flesh—some
rolled in snow—many whipped themselves. Superfluity in dress
and household were dispensed with; property was sold to large
amounts, and immense contributions were made to the poor. Though he
met with much opposition, his followers increased, and began in large
numbers to prophesy and fall into ecstasies. Four hundred men and
women prophesied of his growing kingdom, and young infants who could
hardly speak, would plainly pronounce, ‘Sabbati, Messiah, and
Son of God.’ The people were for a time possessed, and voices
were heard from their bowels. Some fell into trances, foamed at the
mouth, recited their future prosperity, their visions of the Lion of
Judah, the triumph of Sabbati.”
“When he was brought
before the magistrates, some affirmed they saw a pillar of fire
between him and the Cadi or Magistrates, and others actually swore
that they saw it. This the credulous Jews believed; those who would
not believe in him, were shunned as excommunicated persons, and all
intercourse with them prohibited.
“The Grand Seignior, determined to try his faith by
stripping him naked and setting him a mark for his archers; but
rather than subject himself to this test, he turned Mahometan, to the
great confusion of the Jews.’ We have been thus particular in
giving a view of the incidents of the life of this impostor, as a
specimen of the others; and because of some remarkable analogies
between him and the present New York impostor.
Numerous have been the impostors among christians since the
great apostacy began; especially since, and at the time of the
Reformation. Munzer, Stubner, and Stork, when conspicuous in the
beginning of the 16th century.’ These men taught that among
christians, who had the precepts of Gospel to guide them, and the
spirit of God to direct them, the office of magistracy was not only
unnecessary, but an unlawful encroachment on their spiritual liberty;
that the distinctions occasioned by birth, rank, or wealth, should be
abolished; that all christians should put possessions into one common
stock, and live together in that state of equality, which becomes
members of the same family, and that polygamy was not incompatible
with either the Old or New Testament.
They related many visions and revelations which they had
from above, but failing to propagate their views by these means, they
attempted to propagate them by arms. Many Catholies joined them, and
in the various insurrections which they effected, 100,000 souls are
said to have been sacrificed.’
Since the Millennium and
the evils of sectarianism have been the subjects of such speaking and
writing, impostors have been numerous. In the memory of the present
generation, many delusions have been propagated and received. The
shakers, a sect instituted by Anna Lessa, in 1774, have not yet quite
dwindled away. This elect Lady, as they style her, was the head of
its party, and gave them a new bible. ‘They assert that she
spake seventy-two languages, and conversed with the dead. Through her
all blessings flow to her followers—she appointed the sacred
dance and the fantastic song, and consecrated shivering, swooning and
falling down, acts of acceptable devotion.’ They are for a
common stock, and rank marriage among the works of the flesh,—they
are plain in their apparel, and assume the aspect of the friars and
nuns of Catholic superstition.’
The Shakers, Jumpers, and Mutterers of the present age, need
not be mentioned here. Nor need we detail the history of the Miss
Campbell, who in good Old Scotland a year or two since came back from
the dead, and had the gift of tongues, who was believed in by several
ministers of the Scotch Church. But we shall proceed to notice the
most recent and the most impudent delusion which has appeared in our
time. The people that have received this imposture are called, THE
MORMONITES. I have just examined their bible, and will first notice
its contents. It is called the ‘Book of Mormon,’ an
account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the
plates of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, written to the Lamanites,
which are a remnant of the house of Israel, and also to the Jew and
Gentile. Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of
prophecy and of Revelation.’—‘By Joseph Smith,
Junior, Author and proprietor. From Palmera, Printed by E. B.
Grandin, for the Author, 1830.’ It is a collection of books
said to have been written by different persons during the interval of
1020 years—The last and second books of Nephi occupy 13 pages;
the book of Jacob the brother of Nephi occupies 21; that of Enos 3;
that of Jarom 4; that of Omni 4; the words of Mormon 3; the book of
Mosiah 68; that of Alma 186; that of Helaman 44; that of Nephi the
son of Helaman 66; that of Mormon 29; that of Ether 35; and that of
Moroni 14 pages; making in all 588 pages.
This romance—but this is for it a name too
innocent—begins with the religious adventures of one Lehi,
whose wife was Sariah, and their four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and
Nephi. Lehi lived in Jerusalem all his life, up to the first year of
Zedekiah, King of Judah, and when the prophets appeared foretelling
the utter destruction of Jerusalem, Lehi humbled himself, and after
various visions and revelations, started with his sons into the
wilderness. Lehi, before his departure, forgot to bring with him the
records of his family, and that of the Jews; but Nephi, his younger
son, with much pious courage returned and succeeded in getting upon
plates of brass the records of the Jews from the creation down to the
first year of Zedekiah, King of Judah, and also the prophets
including many prophecies delivered by Jeremiah.
From the records it appeared that this Lehi was a son of
Joseph. He prevailed on Laban and his family to accompany him into
the wilderness, whose genealogies the sons of Lehi took with
them.
Lehi was a greater prophet than any of the Jewish
prophets, and uttered all the events of the christian era, and
developed the records of Matthew, Luke, and John, six hundred years
before the baptist was born.—These pilgrims travelled several
days journey in some wilderness, ‘a south, south-east
direction, along the borders of the Red Sea.’ A ball with
pointers on it, inscribed with various intelligence, legible at
proper times, was the pillar and index in passing through the
wilderness for many, very many days. By their bow and arrow they
lived for eight years, travelling an easterly course from Jerusalem,
until they came to a great sea. By divine revelation Nephi
constructed a ship, and although opposed by his unbelieving brethren,
being great assisted by the Holy Spirit, he succeeded in launching
her safely, and got all his tribe, with all their stock of seeds,
animals, and provisions, safely aboard. They had ‘a compass’
which no doubt Nephi knew how to manage; but the Lord had promised
them a fine land, and after many perils and trials, and a long
passage, they safely arrived at the land of promise. Nephi made
brazen plates soon after his arrival in America, for that was the
land of promise to them, and on these plates he marked their
peregrinations and adventures, and all the prophecies which God gave
to him concerning the future destinies of his people, and the human
race.
After his father’s death, his brethren rebelled
against him. They finally separated in the wilderness, and became the
heads of different tribes, often in the land of generations making
incursions upon each other. The Nephites, like their father, for many
generations were good christians, believers in the doctrines of
Calvinists and Methodists, and preaching baptism and other christian
usages hundreds of years before Jesus Christ was born.
Before Nephi died, which was about fifty-five years from the
flight of Lehi from Jerusalem, he had preached to his people every
thing which is now preached in the state of New York, and anointed or
ordained his brother Jacob priest over his people, called the
Nephites. Jacob brought up his son Enos ‘in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord,’ gave him the plates, and left him
successor in office over the people of Nephi. Enos says ‘there
came a voice to me, saying, Enos thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou
shalt be blessed. And, I sayeth, Lord how it is done.’ And he
sayeth unto me, Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast not
heard nor seen.’ p. 143. Enos died one hundred seventy-nine
years from the beginning of Lehi; consequently, this happened four
hundred thirty-one years before Jesus Christ was born. He was a
contemporary with Nehemiah, and may we not say he was much wiser and
more enlightened were the Nephites in America than the Jews at their
return to Jerusalem!
Enos gave the plates to Jarom, his son. In his time ‘they
kept the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy to the Lord.’
During the priesthood and reign of Enos, there were many commotions
and wars between his people and the Lamanites. Then the sharp pointed
arrow, the quiver, and the dart were invented. Jarom delivered his
plates to his son Omni, and gave up the ghost two hundred
thirty-eight years from the flight of Lehi. Omni died two hundred
seventy-six from the flight, and gave them to his brother Chemish;
he, to his son Abinadom; he to his son Amaleki; and he having no son,
gave them to his aunt, whose name was King Benjamin. King Benjamin,
whom he educated in all the learning of his fathers. To Mosiah he
delivered up the plates of Nephi, the ball which guided them through
the wilderness, and the sword of one Laban, of mighty renown. King
Benjamin addressed his people from the large temple which they had
erected, for they had, even then, built a temple, synagogues, and a
tower, in New World.
King Benjamin assembled the people to sacrifice according to
the law around the new temple, and he enjoined upon them, at the same
time, the christian institutions, and gave them a Patriarchal
valedictory. After they had heard him speak, and had offered up their
sacrifices, they fell down and prayed in the following words: ‘O
have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ, that we may
receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for
we believe in Jesus Christ the son of God, who created heaven and
earth and all things, who shall come down among the children of men.’
Then the spirit of the Lord fell upon them and they were filled with
joy, having received a remission of their sins.’ p. 162.
King Benjamin ordered his people to take upon them the name
of Christ, and in these remarkable words, ‘There is no other
name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore I would that you
should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered
into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of
your lives.’—page 166. They all took upon them the name
of Christ, and he having ordained them priests and teachers, and
appointed his son, Mosiah, to reign in his stead, gave up the Ghost
476 years after Lehi’s escape from Jerusalem, and one hundred
twenty-four before Christ was born. Mosiah gave up the plates of
brass, and all the things which we had kept, to Alma the son of Alma,
who was appointed ‘chief judge and high priest;’ the
people willing to have no king, and Mosiah died five hundred
sixty-nine years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem.
In the 14th
year of the Judges, and 69 years before the birth of Jesus, the sent
out missionary priests, who preached through all the tribes of the
countries against all vices, holding ‘forth the coming of the
son of God, his sufferings, death and resurrection, and that he
should appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people
did hear with great joy and gladness.’—p. 268.
Alma’s
book reaches down to the end of the 39th year of the Judges. These
were wonderful years—many cities were founded, many battles
were fought, fortifications reared, letters written, and even in one
year a certain Hagoth built an exceeding large ship, and launched it
forth into the west sea. In this embarked many of the Nephites. This
same ship-builder the next year built other ships, one was lost with
all its passengers and crew.—p. 406.
Many prophecies were pronounced; one that in 400 years after
the coming of Christ, the Nephites would lose their religion. During
the time of the Judges, many were called christians by name, and
‘baptism to repentance’ was a common thing. ‘And it
came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout
all the land, over all the churches.’—p. 349. ‘And
those who did belong to the church were faithful, yea all those who
were believers in Christ, took upon them gladly the name of Christ,
or christians, as they were called, because of their belief in
Christ.’—Page 301. ‘And it came to pass that there
were many who died firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by
the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.’—p.
353. The word was preached by Helaman, Shiblon, Corianton, Ammon, and
his brethren, &c. yea and all those, who had been ordained by the
holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to
preach unto the people.’ Page 623.
This happened in the nineteenth year of the Judges,
seventy-two years before the birth of Jesus. Before this time
synagogues with pulpits were built, for the Zoramites, a sort of
Episcopalians, gathered themselves together on one day of the week,
which day they called the day of the Lord.’—‘And
they had a place which was high and lifted up, which held but one
man, who read prayers, the same prayer every week; and this high
place was called the stand.’—p. 311. The book of Helaman
reaches down to the nineteenth year of the Judges, and to the year
preceding that in which the Messiah was born. During the period
embraced in Helaman’s narrative, many thousand were baptized.
‘And behold the holy spirit of God did come down from heaven,
and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled with fire, and
they could speak forth marvellous words.’—p. 421.
Masonry was invented about this time; for men began to bind themselves in secret oaths to aid one another in all things, good or evil.—p. 424.
Powers
of loosing and binding in heaven were conferred upon Nephi the son of
Helaman, and all miraculous power, such as the apostles possessed.
One Samuel, also foretold that ‘the Christ would be born in
five years, and that the night before should be as light as day; and
that the day of his death should be a day of darkness like the
night.’—p. 445. The book of this Nephi commences with the
birth of the Messiah, six hundred years from the departure of Lehi
from Jerusalem. In the midst of the threats of the infidels to
slaughter the faithful, the sun set; but lo! the night was clear as
mid-day, and from that period they changed their era, and counted
time as we do. A star also appeared, but it is not stated how it
could be seen in a night as bright as day; but it was universally
seen throughout all the land, to the salvation of the pious from the
threats of their enemies. The terrors of the day of his death are
also stated, and in the thirty-fourth year from his nativity, after
his resurrection, he descended from heaven and visited the people of
Nephi. Jesus called upon them to examine his hands and his sides, as
he did Thomas, though none of them had expressed a doubt. Two
thousand five hundred men, women and children, one by one, examined
him, and then worshipped him. He commanded Nephi to baptize, and gave
him the words which he was to use, viz: ‘Having authority given
me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.’ He commissioned eleven
others, who with Nephi, were his twelve American Apostles, and
promised himself to baptize their converts ‘with fire and with
the Holy Spirit.’
He
delivers them the sermon upon the mount, and some other sayings
recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; He healed all their
diseases, and prayed for their children; but the things spoken were
so great and marvellous that they could not be spoken nor written.
He
ordained one to administer the supper, who alone had authority to
dispense it to the disciples baptized in his name. ‘The only
two commandments which were given to the American christians were on
occasional visits which were repeated, were—Pray in your
families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your
children may be blessed.’ ‘Meet often, and forbid no man
from coming unto you when you shall meet together.’—p.
492.
Nephi
was chief among the twelve apostles: he baptized himself, and then
baptized the eleven, whose names were ‘Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni,
and Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremish, Josiah, Zedekiah, and
Isaiah.’ They were baptized in fire and the Holy Ghost.’
Not a new word, however, should be written in addition to those found
in the New Testament; for although he spake for several days to these
American disciples, none of the new and marvellous sayings could be
uttered or written. ‘He inspected the plates of Nephi, and only
found one omission, which was that he failed to mention the
resurrection of many saints in America at the time of the tempest and
earthquake. He commanded these Nephites to be called christians.’
The
book of Nephi the son of Nephi, gives, in four pages, the history of
320 years after Christ. In the thirty-sixth year, all the inhabitants
of the land were converted; there was a perfect community and no
dissensions in the land for one hundred seventy years. ‘Three
of the American apostles were never to die, and were seen four
hundred years after Christ; but what was become of them no one can
tell, except Cowdery, Whitmer and Harris, the three witnesses of the
truth of the plates of Nephi, be these three immortal men.’
Towards the close of the history of Nephi or the record Ammaron,
sects and divisions and battles became frequent, and all goodness had
almost left the continent in the year three hundred and twenty.
Mormon
appears next in the drama, the recording angel of the whole matter,
who, by the way, was a mighty general and great christian; he
commanded, in one engagement forty-two thousand men against the
Lamanites!!! He was no Quaker! This dreadful battle was fought A. D.
330. The Lamanites took South America for themselves, and gave North
America to the Nephites. Mormon was very orthodox, and he preached in
these words, A. D. 362.—‘That Jesus was the very Christ
and the very God.’ It is the head of the Arian controversy by
some angel!!
Moroni
finishes what Mormon his father left undone, and continues the story,
till A. D. 400. He pleads that no one shall disbelieve his record
because of its imperfections!! and declares that none who receive it
will condemn it on account of its imperfections, and for not doing
so, the same shall know greater things. p. 532. ‘He that
condemneth it shall be in danger of hell fire.’ He laments the
prevalence of free masonry in the times when his book should be dug
up out of the earth, and proves that miracles will never cease;
because God is the same yesterday, to day, and forever—consequently
must always create suns, moons, and stars every day!! He exhorted to
‘take heed that none be baptized without telling their
experience, nor partake of the sacrament of Christ unworthily.’
p. 537. Moroni, in the conclusion of his book of Mormon, says if his
plates had been larger we should have written in Hebrew; but because
of this difficulty he wrote in the ‘Reformed Egyptian,’
being handed down and altered till us according to our manner of
speech. p. 558. ‘Condemn me not,’ says he, ‘because
of mine imperfections; neither my father, because of his
imperfections, neither them which have written before him; but rather
give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our
imperfections, that you may learn to be more wise than we have been.’
p. 538. A very necessary advice, indeed!
Moroni
writes the book of Ether, containing an account of the people of
Jared, who escaped from the building of the tower of Babel
unconfounded in his language. These people of Jared, God marched
before in a cloud, and directed them through the wilderness, and
instructed them to build barges to cross seas; and finally they built
eight barges, air tight, and were commanded to make a hole in the top
to admit air, and one in the bottom to admit water, and in them were
put sixteen windows of molten stone, which were touched by the finger
of Jesus, became as transparent as glass, and gave them light under
the inundation waves; and when above the water the windows shone as
stars, apparent to the brother of Jared, and said, behold I am Jesus
Christ, I am the father and the son.’ Two of these stones were
sealed up with the plates and become the spectacles of Joseph Smith,
according to a prediction uttered before Abraham was born. It was
also foretold in the book of Ether, that from thence they should find
the plates should have the privilege of showing the plates unto those
who shall assist to bring forth this work, and unto three shall they
be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall of a surety know
that these things are true.—p. 548.
And the 8 barges,
air-tight, made like cups, after swimming and diving 344 days,
arrived on the coasts of the land of promise. ‘The book of
Ether relates the wars and carnage amongst these people. In the lapse
of generations, they count the two millions of mighty men, besides
women and children, slain; and finally, the power all killed but one,
and he fell to the earth as if he had no life. So ends the book of
Ether.—p. 573.
The
book of Moroni details the manner of ordaining priests and teachers,
the manner of administering ordinances, and the epistles of Mormon to
his son Moroni. Moroni seal up the record A. D. 420, and assures the
world, that spiritual gifts shall never cease, only through unbelief.
And when the plates of Nephi should be dug up out of the earth, he
declares that men should ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, ‘if these things are not true.’ ‘If with a
sincere heart and real intent, having faith in Christ, such prayers
are made, he shall know the truth of all things.’—p. 586.
‘The testimony of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin
Harris, asserting that they saw the plates, is appended. They also
testify that they know that they have been translated by the gift and
power of God, for his voice has declared it unto them.’
Another
testimony is appended signed by four Witness, one Hiram Page, and
three Smiths, affirming that they saw the plates, handled them, and
that Smith has got the plates in his possession.
Such an
analysis of the book of Mormon, the bible of the Mormonites. oticing
of which I would have asked forgiveness from all my readers, had not
several hundred persons of different denominations believed in it. On
this account alone has it become necessary to notice it, and for the
same reason we must examine its pretensions to divine authority; for
it purports to be a revelation from God. And in the first place, we
shall examine its internal evidences.
INTERNAL EVIDENCES.
It admits the Old and New Testaments to contain the revelations, institutions and commandments of God to Patriarchs, Jews, and Gentiles, down to the year 1830, and always, as such, speaks of them and quotes them. This admission at once blasts its pretensions to credibility. For no man with his eyes open can admit both books to have come from God. Admitting the bible now received to have come from God, it is impossible that the book of Mormon came from the same author. For the following reasons:—
1. Smith, its real author, as ignorant and as impudent a knave as ever wrote a book, betrays the cloven foot in assigning his whole book upon a false fact, or a pretended fact, which makes God a liar. It is this:—With the Jews, God made a covenant at Mount Sinai, and instituted a priesthood and a high priesthood. The priesthood he gave to the tribe of Levi, and the high priesthood to Aaron and his sons for a blessing this priesthood. He separated Levi, and covenanted to give to him this office irrevocably while ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came. ‘Then, says God, Moses shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office, and the stranger, (he who cometh nigh, shall be put to death.’ Numbers iii. 10. ‘And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.’ Deut. xxi. 5. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with 250 men of renown, rebelled against a part of the institution of the priesthood, and the Lord destroyed them in the presence of the whole congregation. This was to be a memorial that no stranger invade any part of the office of the priesthood. Num. xvi. 40. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred of the people were destroyed by a plague for murmuring against this memorial.
In the 18th chapter of Numbers the Levites are again to Aaron and his sons, the priesthood confirmed to them with this threat—‘The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.’ ‘Even Jesus says Paul, were he on earth, could not be a priest, for he was of a tribe concerning which Moses spake nothing of priesthood.’ Heb. vii. 13. So irrevocable was the grant of the priesthood to Levi, and of the high priesthood to Aaron, that no stranger approached the altar of God which Moses established. Hence, Jesus himself was excluded from officiating as priest on earth according to the law.
This Joseph Smith overlooked in his impious fraud, and makes his hero Lehi spring from Joseph. And just as soon as his son return with the roll of his lineage, ascertaining that he was of the tribe of Joseph, he and his sons acceptably ‘offer sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord.’—p. 15. Also it is repeated, p. 18—Nephi became chief artificer, ship-builder and mariner; was servant, prophet, priest and king unto his own people, and ‘consecrated Jacob and Joseph, the sons of his father, priests to God and teachers—almost six hundred years before the fullness of the time of the Jewish economy was complete.’—p. 72. Nephi represents himself with all as ‘under the law of Moses,’ p. 105. They build a temple in the new world, and in 55 years after they leave Jerusalem, make a new priesthood which God appropriates. A high priest is also consecrated; and yet they are all like watchmen on walls, and exhorting the people to keep it!’—p. 146, 209. Thus God is represented as instituting, appropriating and blessing a new priesthood from the tribe of Joseph, concerning which Moses gave no commandment concerning priesthood. Although God had promised in the law of Moses, that ‘my name, not the tribe and family of Levi and Aaron, should approach the office of priests,’ he would surely change his mind, and substitute another family in the priesthood, to the exclusion of the tribe of Levi and Aaron, should approach the office of priest, he would surely die; he is represented by Smith as blessing, approbating, and sustaining another family in this appropriated office. The God of Abraham or Joseph Smith must then be a liar!! And who will hesitate to pronounce him an impostor?
This lie runs through his records for the first six
hundred years of his story.
2. This ignorant and impudent liar, in the next place, makes
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, violate his covenants with
Israel and Judah, concerning the land of Canaan, by promising a new
land to the pious Jew.
If a company of reprobate Jews had departed from Jerusalem
and the temple, in the days of Zedekiah, and founded a new colony, it
would not have been so incongruous. But to represent God as inspiring
a devout Jew and a prophet, such as Levi and Nephi are represented by
Smith, with a resolution to forsake Jerusalem and God’s own
house, and to depart from the land which God swore to their fathers
so long as they were obedient; and to guide by a miracle and to bless
by prodigies a good man in forsaking God’s covenant and
worship—is so monstrous an error, that language fails to afford
a name for it. It is to make God violate his own covenants, and set
at nought his own promises, and to convert his curse into blessings.
Excision from the commonwealth of Israel, and banishment from
Jerusalem and the temple, were the greatest curses the law of Moses
knew. But Smith makes a good and pious Jew the subject of this curse,
and sends him off into the inhospitable wilderness, disinherits him
in Canaan, and makes him more happy in forsaking the institutions of
Moses, more intelligent in the wilderness, and more prosperous in
adversity, than even the Jews in their best days, in the best of
lands, and under the best of all governments!!! The impostor was too
ignorant of the history of the Jews and the nature of the covenants
of promise, to have even alluded to them in his book, if he had not
supposed that he had the plates of Moses in his own keeping, as he
had his ‘molten plates’ of Nephi. To separate a family
from the nation of Israel, was to accumulate all the curses of the
law upon that family.—Deut. Xxix. 21.
3. He has more of the Jews, living in the new world, than could have been numbered any where else, even in the days of John the Baptist; and has placed them under a new dynasty. The sceptre, with him, has departed from Judah, and a lawgiver from among his descendants, hundreds of years before Shiloh came; and king Benjamin is wiser and more renowned king than king Solomon. He seems to have gone upon an adage which saith, ‘the more marvellous, the more credible the tale;’ and the less of fact, and the more of fiction, the more intelligible and reasonable the narrative.
4. He represents the temple worship as continued in his new land of promise, contrary to every precept of the law, and so happy are the people of Nephi as never to shed a tear on account of the excision, nor turn an eye toward Jerusalem or God’s temple. The pious Jews in their captivity turned their faces toward Jerusalem and the holy place, and remembered God’s promises concerning the place where he recorded his name. They hung their harps upon the willow, and could not sing the songs of Zion in a foreign land; but the Nephites have not a single wish for Jerusalem, for they can, in their wigwam temple, in the wilderness of America, enjoy more of God’s presence than the most righteous Jew could enjoy in that house of which David had rather be a door-keeper, than to dwell in the tabernacles of men. And all this too, when God’s only house of prayer, according to his covenant with Israel, stood in Jerusalem.
5. Malachi, the last of the Jewish prophets, commanded Israel to regard the law of Moses till the Messiah came. And Moses commanded them to regard him till the Great Prophet came. But Nephi and Smith’s prophets institute ordinances and observances for the Jews, subversive of Moses, 500 years before the Great Prophet came.
6. Passing over a hundred similar errors, we shall next notice his ignorance of the New Testament matters and things. The twelve Apostles of the Lamb, are said by Paul, to have developed certain secrets, which were hid for ages and generations, which Paul says were ordained before the world to their glory, that they should have the honor of announcing them. But Smith makes his pious hero Nephi, 600 years before the Messiah began to preach, and disclose these secrets concerning the calling of the Gentiles, and the blessings flowing through the Messiah to Jews and Gentiles, which Paul says were hid for ages and generations; which in these ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto us the holy Apostles and prophets, by the spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel.’ Smith makes Nephi express every truth found in the writings of the Apostles concerning the calling and blessing of the Gentiles, and even quotes in 11th chapter of Romans, and many other passages before he had a son grown in the wilderness able to aim an arrow at a deer. Paul says these things were secrets and unknown until his time; but Smith makes Nephi say the same things 600 years before Paul was born. One of the two is a false prophet. Mormonites, take your choice!
7. This prophet Smith, through his stone spectacles, wrote
on the plates of Nephi, his book of Mormon, every error and almost
every truth discussed in N. York for the last ten years. He decides
all the great controversies—infant baptism, ordination, the
trinity, regeneration, repentance, justification, the fall of man,
the atonement, transubstantiation, fasting, penance, church
government, religious experience, the call to the ministry, the
general resurrection, eternal punishment, who may baptize, and even
the question of freemasonry, republican government, and the rights of
man. All these topics are repeatedly alluded to. ‘How much more
benevolent and intelligent this American Apostle, than were the holy
twelve, and Paul to assist them!!! He prophesied of all these topics,
and of the apostacy, and infallibly decides, by his authority, every
question. How easy to prophecy of the past or of the present time!!
8. But he is better skilled in the controversies in New York
than in the geography or history of Judea. He makes John baptize in
the village of Bethabara, (page 22) and says Jesus was born in
Jerusalem, p. 240. ‘Great must be the faith of the Mormonites
in this new Bible!!! The mariners compass was only known in Europe
about 300 years ago; but Nephi knew all about steam boats and the
compass 2400 years ago.’
9. He represents the christian institution as practised among his ‘Israelites’ before Jesus was born. And his Jews are called christians while keeping the law of Moses, the holy sabbath, and worshipping in their temple at their altars, and by their high priests.
10. But not to honor him by a too minute examination
and exposition, I will sum up the whole of the internal evidence
which I deem worthy of remark, in the following details:—
The book professes to be written at intervals and by different persons
during the long period of 1020 years. And yet for uniformity of
style, there never was a book more evidently written by one set of
fingers, nor more certainly conceived in one brain since the first
book appeared in human language, than this same book. If I could
swear to any man’s voice, face or person, assuming different
names, I could swear that this book was written by one man. And as
Joseph Smith is a very ignorant man and is called the author and the
title page, I cannot doubt for a single moment that he is the sole
author and proprietor of it. As a specimen of his style the reader
will take the following samples—Page 4th. ‘In his own
preface—“The plates of which hath been spoken.” In
the last page, “the plates of which hath been spoken.” In
the certificate signed by Cowdery and his two witnesses, he has the
same idiom, “which came from the tower of which hath been
spoken;” page 16, “we are a descendant of Joseph.”
‘The virii which thou seest is the mother of God;’
‘Behold the Lamb of God, the Eternal Father,’ p. 25; ‘Ye
are like unto God,’ ‘and I smite unto them,’ p. 44.
‘We did arrive to the promised land,’ p. 49; ‘made
mention upon the first plate,’ p. 50.
Nephi 2400 years ago hears the saying of a Pagan who lived
634 years after him—‘The God of nature suffers,’ p.
51; ‘The righteous meet fear, for it is they which shall not be
confounded,’ p. 58. ‘Shakespeare was read by Nephi 2200
years before he was born—‘The silent grave from whence no
traveller returns,’ 61. ‘Your own eternal welfare’
was a phrase then common in America,’ p. 62. ‘Salvation
is free’ was then announced. ‘That Jesus should rise from
the dead’ was repeatedly declared on this continent in the
reign of Nebuchadnezzar. And at the same time it was said, ‘Messiah
cometh in the fullness of time that he might redeem the children of
men from the fall,’ p. 65. ‘The fall’ was
frequently spoken of at the Isthmus of Darien 2400 years ago.
‘I had no object, says Nephi, in the reign of
Zedekiah, ‘but the everlasting salvation of your souls.’
66. ‘I had spake many things,’ ‘for a more history
part are written upon mine other plates.’ 69. ‘Do not
anger again because of mine enemies,’ p. 70. ‘For it
behoveth the Great Creator that he die for all men.’ ‘I
must needs die an ignominious death,’ ‘This flesh must go
to its mother earth.’ ‘And this death must deliver up its
dead,’ p. 70. were common phrases 2300 years ago—‘for
the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those
who have the law given them,’ p. 81. The Calvinists were in
America before Nephi. ‘The Lord remembereth all they,’
85. The atonement is infinite for all mankind,’ p. 104. ‘The
Americans’ knew this on the Columbo 2400 years ago. ‘His
name shall be called Jesus Christ the Son of God.’ ‘An
angel told this to Nephi 515 years before it was told to Mary,’
p. 105. ‘And they shall teach with their learning and deny the
Holy Ghost which giveth them utterance,’ this prophecy was at
that time delivered against us,’ p. 112. ‘My words shall
hiss forth unto the ends of the earth,’ p. 115. ‘When did
the Lamb of God fill all righteousness in being baptized by water,’
118. This question was discussed 2300 years ago. ‘The baptism
by fire and the Holy Ghost was preached in the days of Cyrus,’
p. 119. ‘The only true doctrine of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost which is one God without end,’ Amen,’
p. 120. This was decided in the time of Daniel the Prophet. ‘I
glory in plainness,’ says Nephi. ‘Christ will show you
that these things are his words in the last day,’ p. 122. ‘Too
late to prove your institution,’ p. 122.
‘After that
ye have obtained a hope in Christ, ye shall obtain riches if you seek
them.’ So spoke Jacob in the days of Ezekiel the Prophet. ‘If
they be lived in Christ and worshipped the Father in his name,’
p. 129. ‘This was said by Jacob in the time of Daniel. ‘Do
as ye hath hitherto done,’ says Moroni. ‘These Smithisms
are in every page.’ ‘And his mother shall be called
Mary,’ p. 160. ‘The Son of God and Father of heaven and
earth,’ p. 161. ‘The infant perisheth not, that dieth in
his infancy,’ ‘For the natural man is an enemy of God and
was from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever,’ p.
161. ‘This was spoken by King Benjamin 124 years before Christ.
He was a Yankee, too, for he spoke like Smith, saying, ‘I who
ye call your king,’ ‘They saith unto the king,’ p.
182. ‘This was another Joseph Smith called Mosiah.’ ‘They
were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were called the church of
Christ,’ p. 192. ‘This happened 100 years before Christ
was born. ‘Alma, why persecuteth thou the church of God,’
p. 222. ‘Ye must be born again; yea, born of God—changed
from the carnal and fallen state to a state of righteousness,’
214. ‘This was preached also 100 years before Christ was born.
‘These things had not ought to be,’ 220.
‘I, Alma, being consecrated by my father Alma to be a
high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority
from God to do these things,’ 232. ‘I say unto you,
except ye repent ye can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven,’
237. ‘He ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands,
to watch over the church—Not so much as a liar of the heathen
shall be lost in the grave,’ 250. ‘The holy order of the
high priesthood,’ p. 250. The high priesthood of Alma was about
80 years before Christ. ‘The Lord poured out his spirit to
prepare the minds of the people for the preaching of Alma, preaching
repentance,’ p. 268. Alma was a Yankee of Smith’s school,
for he said: ‘The light of everlasting life was lit up in his
soul,’ p. 47.
During the pontificate of Alma men prayed thus: ‘If
there is a God, and if thou art God wilt thou make thyself known unto
me,’ p. 286. ‘Alma clapped his hands upon all they which
were with him,’ p. 315. ‘Instructions in the hand of God’
were the preachers of Alma, p. 323. ‘Modest and orthodox men,
truly! ‘If ye deny the Holy Ghost when it shall take place in
you, and ye know that ye deny, behold this is the unpardonable sin.’
p. 332. So Alma preached. ‘And now my son, ye are called of God
to preach the Gospel.’ p. 340. ‘They were high priests
over the church,’ p. 350. ‘The twenty and second year of
the Judges this came to pass,’ p. 364. ‘They were valiant
for courage,’ p. 376.
These are but as one drop out of a bucket compared with the
amount of Smithisms in this book. It is patched up and cemented with
‘And it came to pass’—‘I sayeth unto you’—‘Ye
saith unto him’—and all the King James habits, dids and
dooths—in the lowest imitation of the common version; and is
without exaggeration, the meanest book in the English language; but
it is a translation made from it stone spectacles, in a dark room,
and in the hat of the prophet Smith, from the reformed Egyptian!! It
has not one good sentence in it, save the profanation of those
sentences quoted from the Oracles of the living God. I would as soon
compare a bat to the American eagle, a mouse to a mammoth, or the
deformities of a spectre to the beauties of Him whom John saw in
Patmos, as to contrast it with a single chapter in all the writings
of the Jewish or Christian prophets. It is as certainly Smith’s
fabrication as Satan is the father of lies, or darkness the offspring
of night. So much for the internal evidences of the Book of Mormon.
Its external evidences are, first, the testimony of the
prophets Cowdery, Whitmer, and Harris; who saw the plates and heard
the voice of God; who are dishonest interested relators of the books.
I would ask them how they knew that it was God’s voice which
they heard—but they would tell me to ask God in faith. That is,
I must believe it first, and then ask God if it be true! ‘Tis
better to take Nephi’s proof which is promised us in the day of
final judgment! They say that spiritual gifts are to be continued to
the end of time among the true believers. They have tried, but their
faith failed. Can they show any spiritual gift? Yes, they can mutter
Indian and traffic in new Bibles.
But Smith is the wonder of the world. So was the Apocalyptic
beast! an ignorant young man.’ That needs no proof. Gulliver’s
travels is a heroic poem in comparison of this book of Smith. But he
cannot write a page. Nephi could malmote, who gave forth the Alcoran.
‘Smith is an honest looking fellow.’ So was Simon Magus,
the sorcerer. ‘Just he was inspired.’ So was Judas, by
Satan.
Its external evidence are also the subscriptions of four
Whitmers, three Smiths, and one Page, the relatives and connections
of Joseph Smith, Junior. And these ‘men handled as many of the
brazen or golden leaves as the said Smith translated.’ So did
I. But Smith has got the plates of which hath been spoken. Let him
show them. Their certificate proves nothing, save that Smith wrote it
and they signed it. But Smith gives testimony himself. There is one
who says, ‘If I hear testimony of myself, my testimony ought
not to be regarded.’
If this prophet and his three prophetic witnesses had aught
of sobriety about them or their book, we would have examined it and
exposed it in a different manner. I have never felt myself so fully
authorized to address mortal man in the style in which Paul addressed
Elymas the sorcerer as I feel towards this Atheist Smith. His three
witnesses, I am credibly informed, on one of their horse-swapping and
prophetic excursions in the Sandusky country, having bartered horses
three times for one preaching, represented Walter Scott and myself as
employed in translating these plates, and as believers in the book of
Mormon. If there was any thing plausible about Smith, I would say to
those who believe him to be a prophet, hear the question which Moses
put into the mouth of the Jews, and his answer to it—‘And
if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord
hath not spoken?’—Does he answer, ‘Ask the Lord and
he will tell you?’—Does he say ‘Wait till the day
of judgment and you will know?’ Nay, indeed; but—‘When
a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not
nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken;
the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid
of him.’ Deut. xviii. 8. Smith has failed in every instance to
verify one of his own sayings. Again, I would say in the words of the
Lord by Isaiah, ‘Bring forth your strong reasons, saith the
King of Jacob; let them bring them forth and show us what shall happen: let them
show the former things what they mean, that we may consider them, and
know the latter end of them; show the things which are to come
hereafter, that we may know that you are prophets: yea, do good or do
evil, that we may be dismayed and behold it together. Behold you are
nothing, and your work of naught: an abomination is every one that
chooseth you.’ Is. xli. 21—23.
Let the children of
Mormon ponder well, if yet reason remains with them, the following
passage from Isaiah 44; and if they cannot see the analogy between
themselves and the sons of an ancient imposture, then reason is of as
little use to them as it was to those of whom the prophet spake—
‘The
carpenters having chosen a piece of wood framed it by rule and glued
the parts together, and made it in the form of a man, and with the
comeliness of a man, to set it in a house. He cut wood from the
forest which the Lord planted a— a pine tree, which he had
nourished, that it might be fuel for the fire of a man; and having
taken some of it he warmed himself; and with other pieces he made a
fire and baked cakes, and of the residue they made gods and
worshipped them. Did he not burn half of it in the fire, and with the
coals of that half bake cakes: and having roasted meat with it did he
not eat and was satisfied; and when warmed say, “Aha! I am
warmed, I have enjoyed the fire?” Yet of the residue he made a
carved god, and worshipped it, and prayed to it, saying, “Deliver
me, for thou art my God.”
‘They had not sense to
think; for they were so involved in darkness that they could not see
with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts; nor did any reason
in his mind, nor by his understanding recollect, that he had burned
half of it in the fire, and on the coals thereof baked cakes, and had
roasted flesh and eaten, and of the residue had made an abomination;
so they bow themselves down to it. Know thou that their heart is
ashes, and they are led astray and none can deliver his soul. Take a
view of it, will you not say, “There is indeed a lie in my
right hand?” ’
‘Remember these things, O
Jacob, even thou Israel, for thou art my servant. I have made thee my
servant; therefore O Israel do not thou forget me. For lo! I have
made thy transgressions vanish like a cloud, and thy sins like the
murky vapor. Return to me, and I will redeem thee.’
A. CAMPBELL.
February 10, 1831.
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