Show I ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON PLATES ANY of at the tho Saints Saini MANY M who through missionary la Ia labors bars bors or business requirement are arc brought Into familiar as ns sedation with lh people not of or their filth faith are arc aware that the question queston Is some sometimes sometimes times Ume asked why wh tho the plates plate latel from which the text of ot the Hook Bool of ot Mormon was translated roro not put lut on exhibition to prove povo the thc truth of Joseph JOeph Smith statements respecting them then Generally tho tim questioner wishes wl hes to Know also alu what was waR done dono with them When isen In Informed Informed formed that they tIle the Jere were returned to the tho who delivered them to the tue Prophet et el a n smile of ot Incredulity antI and scorn be bo betrays lra trays s in 10 many Instances Instance the with wih which the reply IH is 11 received and ald It ItIs I Itis Is Insisted In I lell that the plates bo he ben n or their ac no acknowledged know There Thee mo arc ItU many snail who think thu tho exhibition 1011 of ot the tho plates plate would b bl be pro proF cr er and reasonable mid and Ild Its Ill Idom Is 18 sometimes advocated by hy Church atom mem members hors hers It I Is with this proposition that thai vo 0 are at lt pres Ul concerned for Cor re cc what was done dono with thetis thor can cun cannot cannot not bo he determined now stow further than hints thal lint hat hn been leen stated already dole giving ron rca reasons sons Olt why Wit h tho proposed course courS would bo ho boneither hI neither necessary nece nor proper roller attention shall bo bl called e I to hI I the 81 of ot tho the question Itself I This Th I by Its IB terms Is la substantially a it proposition that this tho production anti and exhibition of ot tho the platen would provo trovo nil all that tho the Prophet Joseph Smith for or thorn thor From this standpoint It appears therefore that this ono one Item of ot evi ml evidence dence lence l is all ni that Is I yet ret larking lacking to turn lur uris the iho Ihl urn 1111 scales If In his favor and nud to iut put thu the work worl on un n fl sure foundation That Is IA to 10 say llY though there thero are arc hut but f CI CIot fw nv of ot these questioners or of others wm who are In sympathy with them win who ho con cnn state Intelligently half a dozen n ot of f the tha doctrines that the tue Rook flank Jool of Mormon con eon contains tabs or that Joseph Smith taught yet et we 0 are oro to understand a 1 view II of ot certain gold nold platen whose engravings engraving not ono one In Inmany inmany many thousands could tend rend would woul en ensure sure SUf nn an acknowledgment that principles pies ples of ot Which the confessor knows al almost roost most nothing lira are Iro ho Iho truths truth of nod God ant and genuine Gospel that a I view vie of ot these plates would firmly droll h tho the claim of ot Joseph Smith that lie hi woe 18 u ii I man mali Ian s sent nt with u it 1 message from Al AI God GoI to o this worM world while hiie other otherwise otherwise wise wl o ho iso must to 10 stand ns as an impostor before tho the generality of man mankind kind kiH anti hao isis liti hl religious scoffed it at anti and derided tit as S the grossest of ot errors error i and anti that a sight of ut the plates plaits would satisfactorily provo the thit he authenticity and Inspiration of at their can n record Were ere these e things possible oC or accomplishment by y a n mere more exhibition of ot the plates plate the exercise of ot human reason renon would bo ho ls with antI a 1 condition to Out nC never leer purposed follow to i entire mankind olo To Trl effect anything of ot Important importance by hy bya ri a mi re rc view rica 11 or ot the Iho lh original plates ot of 1 the I hook Book of oC Mormon It must mUt t be lie ns umed that whatever ver Is IR written on gold Rold plates In ancient and curious characters Is IR true and In of God Clod und anti that the tho visible ro of oC such plates proves pro s beyond brond question qu the veracity of ot tho Iho those o Who iio ho ha base e charge chante of them and assures assure Qs ur tin the divinity of the Church work ork accomplished by their guardians Hut Jut such Hueh assumptions a bj can cnn tint find no n lodgment In tho the Mormons pound missile minds nor are seeking converts who I lt lie secured hy by the this exhibition of ot gull plates Of Ot course cour e those thoM who ho ak ask B k the question wo Ye are arc considering never hewer Intended to Invest It with the this weighty already noticed Mid and so CO o It mint be hO b mod Hied to make It mean that tbs tUv l Mormon MorniOn cuc cal would bo hI b lupca Home Hom snore more morl or less les by the tl production of oh the th original plates of if thu the Hook of lt f Mor Mormon Morlon moo mon lon That li is s to say SI a it 1 view of o what whatever ever eer Is written Ilten on gold plates l Otes anti and In an nn ancient cleat e 11 curious character helps seine omo to 10 create u it 1 belief that the hue record Is a 1 true trite one on helps a 1 little to provo prove the veracity or of hose who have he chargo of ot them hell n a fraction to manifest t the divinity of the work helps to tomake make good pure lurt Ur and holy hol 1101 that which before he COIl was Wil esteemed evil 01 and an evil only Lot It to be lo admitted that these c shrunk shrunken en el propositions true It Is evident that the exhibition of ot the tho plates Is t not nota n a IUlI of or such Ih vital as its I souse Koine Ole seem sects to think It Is 18 AW Ve next hove have to 10 consider con the thu very err singular tact fact that Hint thOo who ho me are alo most vitally llly concerned In having havlu tim the Hook of ot Mormon omon records by Ii h eVet cel available proper testimony sire arc not tho the ones In rare In who are on clamoring Mr tr 1 a view of 0 these platen There hero at RI are ft thousands i of ot good goal moon men and tutu women ransoms olen In the thu Church I of ot Jesus Christ of ot 1 Saints who ho have r Insult Insul privation anti i ho have forsaken almost tho the natural man nian holds isolde hol dear for and who are arc staking their eternal on Ott the tue principles contained In tn those records together tORether with other scripture and nd yet et they Ore satisfied anti on happy under unI existing conditions rho The church membership doe docs not ask to have hlo the tho plates produced to confirm faith In its II Joseph JO Smiths Smith ns as a a R sass mes Ire conger sent train from God ol nor Ir In his hi mutate tt respecting huh iho orl of at the thc hook ook of ot Mormon nor lor In anything else elM This In Is n a weighty weigh consideration and Its 11 Importance Is IH intensified whon when wo we e add nM to t It the fart that people who whit title this court I C are arc the anti and moral peers peen of ot who iio ho do tin not nol agree with them as to 10 what should he be dots doni In this matter mater The exhibition or of the tho plates does docs coe not front from these thes facts tacH H l cm em tit lt ill I necessary at Again vh n we II consider the fierce opposition to tn the tM spread ot of the til Lat In work that huts has beets been h cn met on nil all sides antI and the th unusual ulu 1 expenses null that hut mu must lUAt t bo ho met tact sisal home borne horo by h the Saints In gathering together from front nil ni parts of ot the world when we 10 think that the tue 11 upon whom line hns devolved tho the work vork of lt carrying tho the message throughout tho th world are nt generally poor and Inexperienced men uncut who have hf never enjoyed the I c c of ot skilful training for tor eare In schools chool of nf theology theolog when whon we repent WI we think of these them thel things thine and alli many man of ot a 1 relative abstracter mi on In the theone theone one hand anti mi nn tho the other seo the tins rapid progress porre i of ot tho the work ork which In its already spreading beyond tho Iho powers of o the thu Church lo to bear betit oft off oN Its It of the labor In a I manner as OM effectual ns as IA It I Is II desirable It I becomes apparent Ipp that the question queston wo we nrc con dwindles to ono one of no great Importance Again 1011 since many scientific till tf relative to tho the people cen who formerly former Inhabited this country unequivocally tho the authenticity of the tho look Bok of ot Mormon dormon history and Ine In round numbers half a I million devout Cout men and women have risen up during the tho past few tew years as to declare In 11 the fear of God Oo that they the know by IY the testimony of at tho the Italy Holy Spirit that Joseph Smith was 11 a n messenger sent from front Ool mind imd consequently that the plate pin teA must have he on nn existence thel exhibition becomes a matter of or no n Im Importance no rt an C C To Tn lt show them publicly would mere merey m re reI I y pander ander to th desires of the curious or Rive give Rh uninspired men utica an m opportunity to display dl their learning lesul from theM the these B sources could not affect 1 ct to nay any appreciable extent the tue present condl condl lieu Herr In turn the question Ile lon Is l asked why Shy IhY the pitts of the Ihs Hook honk of Mormon r rN r out ut for fOI Qi exceptional treat mont ment There are Iro extant for instance only copies of ot tho thus original manuscripts of ot tho the Now XOI ew Testament Te scriptures mind and Ind IndI It I seems that thu Impartiality ought to bo be observed In 11 these eases cases Cle but since those who us Ut In Inthis Inthis inthis this matter donot do not comply with 11 those terms terl wo we shall shill lD have to my say l Ity hy y pari pool parity parity ty of ot reason that people ought not Ilot t to accept tho Gospel lo of Jesus Cutlet hi 11 1st us ie 18 te Ie corded by b the tIme l w Murk Luke Luko and John ui tin i tn Ih IC H untie of their writings are Rr cd Hut such curbs o an nit In outrage on eta ril the tl lt f thin lul Christian world Is not nol seriously ly contemplated It H to tl b the fad fact Unit when men take tako suit h t I course reflecting the Gospel nf ot Je JI un Christ ns tie n written by b Alma Mine and nn others something lisle him their Suppose too that the plan of oC exhibiting lUng the tho orIgInal orl of ot the hook of Mor tor Mormon moon mon sro put Into practise to tr bring men lon to a knowledge of the Ihl truth how m mail ny of ot 1 the teeming millions of world rould could find Ond time t to go KO to MP see them To n tu few fel who wito might Iio 10 n ar th rho plic where they thoy were kept the thi n leIM esia y loss Iou of time Involved would be nr t little II te but when hemm a I Journey journe Journ of ot or of ot thousands of o miles would woul have havo to 10 he be undertaken hy by mil millions mi ash lions of ot people the plan laus would not nol work at ut 1 nil all I To Tn carry It II out would prove prole a task lask I too grett for human agencies al It I would also effectually bar h r out most ot of the poor who whits wh could not afford the tho ex cx expense pense nf ot the tho borne lourney requited required In n irly every casa Thes form fonn the th very rn CIR clin of ot people eople for tor or whom hol us as t we W are taught by b the thit Savior Himself the tl lo rl p 1 H I Specially Intended d and 1 train from rom which He lIe Jl gathers rR a vast vust n t majority of ot Ills l el t children Any n lt scheme shem therefore wo we may 11 usia be sure fure url that would bar biti 11 out th thu poor poo r trout from any nil Gospel Oo p 1 privilege Is I not no notime time the Ih one 01 that Is li be t It 1 eon can ln not have hate nod Gods approval ho no matter r how hol worthy It may mi ala appear In the this sight eight of oC nin m l t Again Alain were fr the thc plaice put pui on inhibition tion there would he be but bUI few f of o thoSe thos ton who Ver eer saw I th thesis thim m to whom they Ihl would not be bi hr a it 1 1 book hook How many moan of ot the th common people could mend ln the tho characters In which that record Is I written Not ot ono one on A few tet tel min might be he able to partly decipher them hut tho the number of oC these e even elen compe competent Il tent In iii eVory eve ever respect to 10 o rUI e th work stork would wealth probably bit lio III le less a thin hati a it I score Icoro or ft n dozen rise great gre it t of or mankind would be tie In n a 1 posItion like hike that of the tie king of ot Jal lol ad aad id hi isle hIs no blOts bleD who hmo nl aw the an announcing nl flouncing their doom written un on ih walls wails wil of the feasting hall hail hal but w I it ithone none hone of ot them could reach redd or 01 understand under The Tho aid of 0 an nn Interpreter hud had 11 to 10 be ob oh obtained before the tho meaning of oC that Hint writ writIng Ing tn could bo be b nude clear e lr end And In th the else case of ot tho tue originals of the flok of ut o Mormon orron the service of of nn an ni Interpreter interpret would 10 ho 10 before they 11 11 id b ii hI made of ot tiny any nn us or h hl historical to At t this point we wo ask osk why thi Tori ph Smith could coull not net act let In that capacity ai as a faithfully tuly ns as al some ome other or nn other man mami lal Why WIn hy Is It I that his hla hil I Inot Inot Is not ns n good is that of another parents ought might be he respecting re some somo of at th t I ho heer r 1 fleas lie was mis a m man of ot if no n ru hiI ruble ble veracity He lie surrendered his lit If is 3 n im I nod and rn hut his hil testimony nv ft with lib his isle blood cattier T titan than ret rn t a tear of what ho he had hind spoken about r or spIritual matter matr LH rH the tl lit world sugs suggest t If I It I can who wIse could be bea bei a i 1 Snore moro faithful and reliable translator of those tho 1 sacred writings than bait Smith was waR A mere mell view thee Iel of certain plates would demonstrate nothing but ut the existence ot or those plates plateR Their Th I mere liters Iler possession by l the Ih Mormons would afford no 10 assurance n that they tle were tere not spurious altogether ther antI and to settle limit Ils question the world 0 ril would have havo to 10 fall tal back ark on nit 01 t st tl mony mOi that Is b Just junt aa as lS reliable now when to th the tha In width the lie genuine plates 9 were Ite obtained as ns It would ho bo under nosIer ed 1 conditions to allay that time the plates In view fre nut not It manufactured to II order Let Lot the tho Interpretation of ot the tho Hook Book of ot Mar Mor Mormon Io mon moon record ho made 1 c by hy JOseph J Smith or by IW n a committee of learned men 1 en let the originals orl be he h produced or not be pro produced produced the of ot reliance on al hu human moan man testimony cannot bo ho eliminated from rout the estee ca I Tho rho Th alternatives tIre arc le for tor Goti or angels Inel to appear personally to each earls antI every In Individual In visits for tor which some ome of ot Us 11 ii are tItO not prepared or for tor us to 10 rush rUAh at n a ono once Into the time realms realm or of folly ill The Tho he question of or reliance on 01 human testimony In sonic ome of ot Its iA phases shall dish be bo taken up UI later hater Inter but hut a pause paus Is now no mantle made to remark that thai a n public view Iel of ot the plates would serve nerve no o good geniI purpose In particular that thai tho time translation of ot their records iCieSt does not now 11 effect el t while the tho latter offers sanity many advantages lagos that the virte do ho not miot and never eler can possess Thus rinse for t tho the translation anti publication of those thoRe records H In iii clap hook book form fOlI omits In several different iii languages In ts sum b stoat in lh within rends reach of ot everybody the tue I originals antI and Inc the lie principles contained In them theirs cnn cami be |