A Voice of Warning Part 4

These records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was not far from seven inches in width by eight inches in length, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were filled on both sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed.

The characters of letters upon the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of engraving.

With the records was found a curious instrument, called by the ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in use in ancient times by persons called Seers. It was an instrument by the use of which they received revelation of things distant, or of things past or future.

In the mean time the inhabitants of that vicinity, having been informed that Mr. Smith had seen heavenly visions, and that he had discovered sacred records, began to ridicule and mock at those things.

And after having obtained those sacred things, while proceeding home through the wilderness and fields, he was waylaid by two ruffians, who had secreted themselves for the purpose of robbing him of the records.

One of them struck him with a club before he perceived them; but being a strong man, and large in stature, with great exertion he cleared himself from them, and ran towards home, being closely pursued until he came near his father's house, when his pursuers, for fear of being detected, turned and fled the other way.

Soon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those parts. False reports, misrepresentations, and base slanders flew as if upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was frequently beset by mobs and evil designing persons. Several times he was shot at, and very narrowly escaped. Every device was used to get the plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his life, from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length concluded to leave the place, and go to Pennsylvania; and accordingly packed up his goods, putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded upon his journey. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by an officer with a search warrant, who flattered himself with the idea that he should surely obtain the plates; after searching very diligently, ho was sadly disappointed at not finding them. Mr. Smith then drove on; but before he got to his journey's end, he was again overtaken by an officer on the same business, and after ransacking the wagon very carefully, he went his way, as much chagrined as the first at not being able to discover the object of his research. Without any further molestation, he pursued his journey until he came into the northern part of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, in which part his father-in-law resided.

Having provided himself with a home, ho commenced translating the record, by the gift and power of G.o.d, through the means of the Urim and Thummim; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of employing a scribe, to write the translation as it tame from his mouth.

In the meantime, a few of the original characters were accurately transcribed and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the translation, were taken by a gentleman named Martin Harris to the city of New York, where they were presented to a learned gentleman named Anthon, who professed to be extensively acquainted with many languages, both ancient and modern. He examined them, but was unable to decipher them correctly; but he presumed, that if the original records could be brought, he could a.s.sist in translating them.

But to return. Mr. Smith continued the work of translation, as his pecuniary circ.u.mstances would permit, until he had finished the unsealed part of the records. The part translated is ent.i.tled the "Book of Mormon," which contains nearly as much reading as the Old Testament.

"Well," says the objector, "if it were not for the marvellous, the book would be considered one of the greatest discoveries the world ever witnessed. If you had been ploughing, or digging a well or cellar and accidentally dug up a record containing some account of the ancient history of the American continent, and of its original inhabitants, together with the origin of the Indian tribes who now inhabit it; had this record had nothing to do with G.o.d, or angels, or inspiration, it would have been hailed by all the learned of America and Europe, as one of the greatest and most important discoveries of modern times, unfolding a mystery which had, until then, bid defiance to all the researches of the learned world. Every newspaper would have been filled with the glad tidings, while its contents would have poured upon the world a flood of light, on subjects before concealed in the labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. But who can stoop, and so humble himself as to receive anything, in this enlightened age, renowned for its religion and learning, from the ministering of angels, and from inspiration? This is too much: away with such things, it comes in contact with the wisdom and popularity of the day." To this I reply, The Lord knew that before He revealed it; this was one princ.i.p.al object He had in view; it is just the manner of His dealing with the children of men; He always takes a different course from the one marked out for Him by the wisdom of the world, in order to "confound the wise, and bring to naught the understanding of the prudent;" He chooses men of low degree, even the simple and the unlearned, and those who are despised, to do His work and to bring about His purposes, that no flesh shall glory in His presence. O ye wise, and ye learned, who despise the wisdom that comes from above!

Know ye not, that it was impossible for the world by wisdom to find out G.o.d? Know ye not that all your wisdom is foolishness with G.o.d?

Know ye not that ye must become as a little child, and be willing to learn wisdom, from the least of His servants, or you will perish in your ignorance?

But what are the evidences which we gather from Scripture, concerning the coming forth of this glorious work? We shall attempt to prove: first, that America is a land promised to the seed of Joseph; second, that the Lord would reveal to them His truth as well as to the Jews; and third, that their record should come forth, and unite its testimony, with the record of the Jews, in time for the restoration of Israel, in the last days.

First, Genesis, xlviii, Jacob, while blessing the two sons of Joseph, says: "Let them grow into a mult.i.tude in the midst of the earth." In the same blessing, it is said of Ephraim, "His seed shall become a mult.i.tude of nations." Now put the sense of these sayings together, and it makes Ephraim a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth.

In Genesis, xlix, it is prophesied concerning Joseph, while Jacob was blessing him, that he should be "a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall: the archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode in strength." Again, he further says: "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren." Now I ask, Who were Jacob's progenitors, and what was the blessing conferred upon him?

Abraham and Isaac were his progenitors, and the land of Canaan was the blessing they conferred upon him, or that G.o.d promised them he should possess. Recollect that Jacob confers on Joseph a much greater land than that of Canaan; even greater than his fathers had conferred upon him, for Joseph's blessing was to extend to the uttermost bound of the everlasting hills. Now, reader, stand in Egypt, where Jacob then stood, and measure to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills, and you will land somewhere in the central part of America. Again, one of the Prophets says, in speaking of Ephraim: "When the Lord shall roar, the children of Ephraim shall tremble from the west." Now let us sum up these sayings, and what have we gained? First, that Ephraim was to grow into a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth; second, Joseph was to be greatly blessed in a large inheritance, as far off as America; third, this was to be on the west of Egypt or Jerusalem.

Now let the world search from pole to pole, and they will not find a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth, who can possibly have sprung from Ephraim, unless they find them in America; for the midst of all other parts of the earth is inhabited by mixed races, who have sprung from various sources; while here an almost boundless country was secluded from the rest of the world, and inhabited by a race of men, evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into many nations. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken; therefore, these Scriptures must apply to America, for the plainest of reasons: they can apply to no other place.

Now, secondly, we are to prove that G.o.d revealed himself to the seed of Joseph or Ephraim--their location we have already proved--dwelling in America. For this, we quote Hosea, viii, 12; speaking of Ephraim, he says by the spirit of prophecy: "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." This is proof positive and needs no comment, that the great truths of Heaven were revealed unto Ephraim, and were counted as a strange thing.

Third: Were these writings to come forth just previously to the gathering of Israel? Answer: They were, according to Ezekiel, thirty-seventh chapter, where G.o.d commanded him to "Take one stick, and write upon it For Judah, and the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions; and join them one to another, into one stick, and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt not thou show us what thou meanest by these? say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand; and the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all."

Now, nothing can be more plain than the above prophecy; there are presented two writings, the one to Ephraim, the other to Judah; that of Ephraim is to be brought forth by the Lord, and put with that of Judah, and they are to become one in their testimony, and grow together in this manner, in order to bring about the gathering of Israel. The eighty-fifth Psalm is very plain on the subject: speaking of the restoration of Israel to their own land, it says, "Mercy and Truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. _Truth shall spring out of the earth:_ and Righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps." Now the Savior, while praying for His disciples, said: "Sanctify them through Thy _truth_--Thy _word_ is _truth_." From these pa.s.sages we learn, that His word is to spring out of the earth, while Righteousness looks down from heaven. And the next thing that follows is, that Israel are set in the way of His steps, and partaking of the fruit of their own land.

Jeremiah, x.x.xiii, 6, speaking of the final return from captivity of both Judah and Israel, says: "I will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." And Isaiah, speaking of the everlasting covenant, which should gather them, makes this extraordinary and very remarkable expression: "Their seed shall be known amongst the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people." Now, reader, let me ask, can any one tell whether the Indians of America are of Israel, unless by revelation from G.o.d? Therefore this was a hidden mystery, which it was necessary to reveal in time for their gathering.

So much, then, we have produced from the Scriptures, in proof of a work, like the book of Mormon, making its appearance in these days; to say nothing of Isaiah, xxix. But says one, "What is the use of the Book of Mormon, even if it be true?" I answer: First, it brings to light an important history, before unknown to man. Second, it reveals the origin of the American Indians, which was before a mystery. Third, it contains important prophecies, yet to be fulfilled, which immediately concern the present generation. Fourth, it contains much plainness in regard to points of doctrine, insomuch that all may understand, and see eye to eye, if they take pains to read it.

"But what are its proofs, as to chosen witnesses who testify to its translation by inspiration?" For this testimony, I refer the reader to the testimony of the witnesses in the first page of the Book of Mormon; he will there find as positive testimony as has ever been found in the other Scriptures concerning any truth which G.o.d ever revealed. Men there testify, not only that they have seen and handled the plates, but that an angel of G.o.d came down from heaven, and presented the plates before them, while the glory of G.o.d shone round about them, and the voice of G.o.d spoke from heaven, and told them that these things were true, and had been translated by the gift and power of G.o.d, and commanded them to bear record of the same to all people.

Blessed be the Lord G.o.d of our fathers! He has visited His people, and the dayspring from on high has dawned upon our benighted world once more; for no sooner had the Book been translated, and men begun to bear record of the same, than the Angel of the Lord came down from heaven again, and commissioned men to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to baptize with water for the remission of sins. No sooner did the people begin to believe their testimony, and be baptized, than the Holy Ghost fell upon them, through the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and the heavens were opened: and while some had the ministering of angels, others began to speak in other tongues, and prophesy. From that time forth, many of them were healed by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and thus mightily grew the word of G.o.d, and prevailed. And thus, thousands have been raised up to testify that they do know for themselves, and are not dependent on the testimony of any man, for the truth of these things, for these signs follow them that believe. And when a man believes the truth, through the testimony of G.o.d's witnesses, and then these signs follow, not only them, but him also; if he has the ministering of angels, if he has been healed, or heals others, by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus, or if he speaks in other tongues, or prophesies, he knows it for himself; and thus is fulfilled the saying of Scripture, "If any man do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of G.o.d." Thus faith comes by hearing, and knowledge by obeying; but hearing comes by preaching, and preaching comes by sending; as it is written--"How shall they preach, except they be sent?"

But there are many who say--"Show us a sign, and we will believe."

Remember, faith comes not by signs, but signs come by faith. Gifts were not given to make men believe; but what saith the Scripture?

"Gifts are for the edifying of the Church." If otherwise, why was it not written--"Faith comes by miracles," instead of "Faith comes by hearing?" I always take it for granted, that a man or woman who comes demanding a sign in order to make them believe, belongs to a wicked and adulterous generation, at least, to say no worse; for any person who will go to Jesus, with a pure heart, desiring and praying in faith, that he may know the truth concerning these things, the Lord will reveal it to him, and he shall know, and shall bear testimony, for by the Spirit of G.o.d they shall know truth from error: as it is written--"My sheep hear my voice." And he that will not come unto Jesus by faith, shall never know the truth, until, too late, he finds the harvest is over, and the summer is ended, and his soul not saved.

Thus the religion of Jesus, unlike all other religious systems, bears its own weight, and brings certainty and knowledge, leaving no room for imposition. And now I say unto all people, Come unto the Father in the name of Jesus; doubt not, but be believing, as in days of old, and ask in faith for whatsoever you stand in need of; ask not that you may consume it on your l.u.s.ts, but ask with a firmness not to be shaken, that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will keep His commandments, as fast as He makes them manifest unto you; and if ye do this, and He reveals to you that He has sent us with a new and everlasting covenant, and commanded us to preach, and baptize, and build up His Church as in days of old, then come forward and obey the truth; but if you do not know, or are not satisfied that He has sent us, then do not embrace the doctrine we preach. Thus to your own master you shall stand or fall; and one day you shall know, yea, in that great day, when every knee shall bow, then shall you know that G.o.d has sent us with the truth, to prune His vineyard for the last time, with a mighty pruning.

We shall now introduce much circ.u.mstantial evidence, from American antiquities, and from the traditions of the natives, etc.

First, says Mr. Boudinot: "It is said among their princ.i.p.al or beloved men, that they have it handed down from their ancestors, that the book which the white people have, was once theirs: that while they had it they prospered exceedingly, etc. They also say, that their fathers were possessed of an extraordinary Divine Spirit, by which they foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nature; and this they transmitted to their offspring, on condition of their obeying the sacred laws; that they did, by these means, bring down showers of blessings upon their beloved people; but that this power, for a long time past, had entirely ceased." Colonel James Smith, in his journal, while a prisoner among the natives, says: "They have a tradition, that in the beginning of this continent, the angels or heavenly inhabitants, as they call them, frequently visited the people, and talked with their forefathers, and gave directions how to pray."

Mr. Boudinot, in his able work, remarks concerning their language: "Their language, in its roots, idiom, and particular construction, appears to have the _whole genius_ of the Hebrew; and what is very remarkable, and well worthy of serious attention, has most of the peculiarities of that language." There is a tradition related by an aged Indian, of the Stockbridge tribe, that their fathers were once in possession of a "Sacred Book," which was handed down from generation to generation; and at last hid in the earth, since which time they had been under the feet of their enemies. But these oracles were to be restored to them again; and _then_ they would triumph over their enemies, and regain their rights and privileges. Mr. Boudinot, after recording many traditions similar to the above, at length remarks: "Can any man read this short account of Indian traditions, drawn from tribes of various nations; from the west to the east, and from the south to the north, wholly separated from each other, written by different authors of the best character, both for knowledge and integrity, possessing the best means of information, at various and distant times, without any possible communication with each other; and yet suppose that all this is the effect of chance, accident, or design, from a love of the marvelous, or a premeditated intention of deceiving, and thereby ruining their well established reputation? Can any one carefully, and with deep reflection, consider and compare these traditions and nations with the position and circ.u.mstances of the long lost ten tribes of Israel, without at least drawing some presumptive inferences in favor of these wandering natives being descended from the ten tribes of Israel?"

"Joseph Merrick, Esq., a highly respectable character in Pitsfield, Ma.s.s., gave the following account: That in 1815, he was leveling some ground under and near an old wood-shed standing on a place of his, situated on _Indian Hill_. He ploughed and conveyed away old chips and earth to some depth. After the work was done, walking over the place, he discovered, near where the earth had been dug the deepest, a black strap, as it appeared, about six inches in length, and one and a half in breadth, and about the thickness of a leather trace to a harness.

He perceived it had, at each end, a loop of some hard substance, probably for the purpose of carrying it. He conveyed it to his house, and threw it into an old tool box. He afterwards found it thrown out at the door, and again conveyed it to the box.

"After some time, he thought he would examine it; but in attempting to cut it, found it as hard as bone; he succeeded, however, in getting it open, and found it was formed of two pieces of thick rawhide, sewed and made water-tight with the sinews of some animal, and gummed over; and in the fold was contained _four_ folded pieces of parchment. They were of a dark yellow hue, and contained some kind of writing. The neighbors coming in to see the strange discovery, tore one of the pieces to atoms, in the true Hun and Vandal style. The other three pieces Mr. Merrick saved, and sent them to Cambridge, where they were examined, and discovered to have been written with a pen, in _Hebrew_, plain and legible. The writing on the three remaining pieces of parchment, was quotations from the Old Testament. See Deut., vi, from 4--9; also xi, 13--21; and Exodus, xiii, 11--16, to which the reader can refer, if he has the curiosity to read this most interesting discovery.

"On the banks of White River, in Arkansas Territory, have been found ruins erected no doubt by an enlightened population, of the most extraordinary character, on account of their dimensions, and the materials of which they were erected. One of these works is a wall of earth, which encloses an area of six hundred and forty acres, equal to a mile square, and having, in its centre, the foundation of a large circular building, or temple. Another, yet more strange, and more extensive, consists of the foundations of a great city, whose streets, crossing each other at right angles, are easily traced through the mighty forest. And besides these are found the foundations of _houses_, made of _burnt_ bricks, like the bricks of the present time.

These have been traced to the extent of a mile."

The foregoing is taken from Priest's American Antiquities, and from the same work we extract the following, page 246:

"_Ruins of the City of Otolum, discovered in North America_.--In a letter of C. S. Rafinesque, whom we have before quoted, to a correspondent in Europe, we find the following: 'Some years ago, the Society of Geography, in Paris, offered a large premium for a voyage to Guatemala, and for a new survey of the antiquities of Yucatan and Chiapa, chiefly those fifteen miles from Palenque.'"

"I have," says this author, "restored to them the true name of _Otolum_, which is yet the name of the stream running through the ruins. They were surveyed by Captain Del Rio, in 1787, an account of which was published in English, in 1822. This account describes partly the ruins of a _stone_ city, of no less dimensions than seventy-five miles in circuit; length, thirty-two, and breadth twelve miles, full of palaces, monuments, statues, and inscriptions: one of the earliest seats of American civilization; about equal to Thebes of ancient Egypt."

It is stated in the _Family Magazine_, No. 34, p. 266, for 1833, as follows: "Public attention has been recently excited, respecting the ruins of an ancient city, found in Guatemala. It would seem that these ruins are now being explored, and much curious and valuable matter, in a literary and historical point of view, is antic.i.p.ated. We deem the present a most auspicious moment, now that the public attention is turned to the subject, to spread its contents before our readers, as an introduction to future discoveries, during the researches now in progress."

The following are some of the particulars, as related by Captain Del Rio, who partially examined them, as above related, in 1787: "From Palenque, the last town northward in the province of _Ciudad Real de Chiapa_, taking a southwesterly direction, and ascending a ridge of high land, that divides the kingdom of Guatemala from Yucatan, at the distance of six miles, is the little river _Micol_, whose waters flow in a westerly direction, and unite with the great river _Tulijah_, which bends its course towards the province of _Tobasco_. Having pa.s.sed Micol, the ascent begins, and at half a league, or a mile and a half, the traveler crosses a little stream called Otolum; from this point heaps of stone ruins are discovered, which render the roads very difficult for another half league, when you gain the height whereon the stone houses are situated, being still fourteen in number in one place, some more dilapidated than others, yet still having many of their apartments perfectly discernible. These stand on a rectangular area, three hundred yards in breadth by four hundred and fifty in length, which is a fraction over fifty-six rods wide, and eighty-four rods long, being in the whole circuit, two hundred and eighty rods, which is three fourths of a mile, and a trifle over. This area presents a plain at the base of the highest mountain forming the ridge. In the centre of this plain is situated the largest of the structures which has been, as yet, discovered among these ruins. It stands on a mound, or pyramid, twenty yards high, which is sixty feet, or nearly four rods, in perpendicular alt.i.tude, which gives it a lofty and beautiful majesty, as if it were a temple suspended in the sky.

This is surrounded by other edifices, namely, five to the northward, four to the southward, one to the southwest, and three to the eastward, fourteen in all.

"In all directions, the fragments of other fallen buildings are seen extending along the mountain, that stretches east and west either way from these buildings, as if it were the great temple of wors.h.i.+p, or their government-house, around which they built their city, and where dwelt their kings and officers of state. At this place was found a subterranean stone aqueduct, of great solidity and durability, which in its course pa.s.ses beneath the largest building."

Let it be understood, this city of Otolum, the ruins of which are so immense, is in North, not South America, in the same lat.i.tude with the island of Jamaica, which is about eighteen degrees north of the equator, being on the highest ground between the northern end of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, where the continent narrows towards the Isthmus of Darien, and is about eight hundred miles south of New Orleans.

The discovery of these ruins, and also of many others, equally wonderful, in the same country, is just commencing to arouse the attention of the schools of Europe, which hitherto have denied that America could boast of her antiquities. But these immense ruins are now being explored under the direction of scientific persons, a history of which, in detail, will, doubtless, be forthcoming in due time; two volumes of which, in ma.n.u.script, we are informed, have already been written, and cannot but be received with enthusiasm by Americans.

A gentleman who was living near the town of Cincinnati, in 1826, on the upper level, had occasion to sink a well for his accommodation; he persevered in digging to the depth of eighty feet, without finding water; but still persisting in the attempt, his workmen found themselves obstructed by a substance, which resisted their labor, though evidently not stone. They cleared the surface and sides from the earth bedded around it, when there appeared the stump of a tree, three feet in diameter, and two feet high, which had been cut down with an ax. The blows of the ax were yet visible. It was nearly of the color and apparent character of coal, but had not the friable and fusible quality of that substance. Ten feet below, the water sprang up, and the well is now in constant supply and high repute.

In Morse's Universal Geography, first volume, p. 142, the discovery of the stump is corroborated: "In digging a well in Cincinnati, the stump of a tree was found in a sound state, ninety feet below the surface; and in digging another well, at the same place, another stump was found, at ninety four feet below the surface, which had evident marks of the ax; and on its top there appeared as if some iron tool had been consumed by rust."

We might fill a volume with accounts of American antiquities, all going to show that this country has been inhabited by a people who possessed a knowledge of the arts and sciences, who built cities, cultivated the earth, and who were in possession of a written language. But the things which we have here introduced are abundantly sufficient for our purpose. If a few characters in Hebrew have been found in the earth in America, written on parchment, then it is just as easy to admit that a whole volume has been found in the earth in America, written on plates, in Egyptian characters. The astonis.h.i.+ng facts of the stumps found eighty or ninety feet under ground at Cincinnati, and similar discoveries in many other parts of North and South America, such as buried cities, and other antiquities, all go to prove that there has been a mighty convulsion and revolution, not only of nations, but of nature; and such a convulsion as is nowhere else so reasonably accounted for, as in the following extraordinary and wonderful account of events, which transpired in this country, during the crucifixion of Messiah, which we extract from the Book of Mormon, Nephi, v, 2-11:

"And it came to pa.s.s, in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, in the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land; and there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth, as if it was about to divide asunder; and there were exceeding sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire; and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned; and the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that, in the place of the city thereof, there became a great mountain; and there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward. But, behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for, behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest, and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the exceeding great quaking of the whole earth; and the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough, and many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shook till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate; and there were some cities which remained, but the damage thereof was exceeding great, and there were many in them who were slain, and there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind, and whither they went, no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away; and thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth. And, behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams, and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.

"And it came to pa.s.s, that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease--for, behold, they did last for about the s.p.a.ce of three hours: and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the s.p.a.ce of three hours; and then, behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.

"And it came to pa.s.s that there was a thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof, who had not fallen, could feel the vapor of darkness; and there could be no light because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceeding dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all; and there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.

"And it came to pa.s.s, that it did last for the s.p.a.ce of three days, that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling, and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and great destruction which had come upon them. And in one place they were heard to cry, saying, O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city of Zarahemla! And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying, O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and Stoned the prophets and cast them out; then would our mothers, and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah; and thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.

"And it came to pa.s.s, that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth upon the face of this land, crying, Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth, except they shall repent, for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen. Behold, that great city of Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof. And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depth of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned. And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them. And behold the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth: yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Moc.u.m and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof, and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them. And behold the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and saints should not come up anymore unto me against them. And behold that great city of Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land: therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them. And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and tho city of Kishk.u.men, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations; and because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them; and many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.

"O, all ye that are spared, because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily, I say unto you, if ye will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whomsoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of G.o.d. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. I came unto my own, and my own received me not.

And the Scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of G.o.d; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name; for, behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. I am the light and life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood: yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer, for a sacrifice unto me, a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin: therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive; for of such is the kingdom of G.o.d. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again: therefore, repent and come unto me, ye ends of the earth, and be saved.

"And now, behold it came to pa.s.s, that all the people of the land did hear these sayings; and did witness of it. And after these sayings, there was silence in the land for the s.p.a.ce of many hours: for so great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land for the s.p.a.ce of many hours.