Show THE BOOK OP OF MORMON in the pacific transcript published at pacific missouri mr C L phifer makes the subjoined sub joined comm eiAs on the book of mormon which are aff entirely different from the views generally expressed by writers on that subject while the christian bible is the best book in the world the sacred books of other religions loved believed in treasured and eagerly read by millions axe are worthy our respectful attention indeed I 1 am not sure but that the very prestige they have gained stamps them as among the wf worlds greatest books and that for this reason a man who aspires to read the best should peruse them even before he finds place for many classics that have pleased the living but never been pillows for the dying head for my part Wy I 1 have for years considered it a privilege to read the bible of any people I 1 have read several I 1 have been converted to none yet in every one I 1 have found much to admire I 1 the last one I 1 have tead read is the american bible the book of mormon As with al all the others it has haa not converted me but ut I 1 find good in it I 1 began 1 the perusal atwith all the popular misconceptions concerning it I 1 ended iii with th the feeling it is worthy a place in any scholars library if it sanctions polygamy I 1 notice it if it is impure in tone or teaching or the work of an ignoramus then I 1 am unable to read a book understand the author is not nat a fool if he is a he cleverly masks himself his style never varies from that of the pious oriental sometimes it is tiresome e but it never betrays bei trays nineteenth century manner mamer the claim that the work was translated from ancient plaes is in not betrayed by any Itte literary 1 sates apse in the unlettered author smith has produced a remarkable work to say the least Un believers in its divinity might well class it as the greatest Amo americal America rican 0 novel for it deserves the I 1 term the romance manice ro of it ft is complete As a story composed of many st stories orles it is plausible and takes rank along W with biblical and aaa profane history it easily excels in this regard the koran korall 1 the zend and the vedas though the legendary matter of commentators on th the koran approach and perhaps ex the he co continuity of the story but th theory in detail I 1 f the author or however finds fault vh the book of mormon because becaas he trinel says it contains no new dac doctrines in this inspect it is unlike the productions iKo roaster i the lat bad boldly ly into the sea am of lifes ieh and each t up his own pearls which he strung into a necklace of philosophy the same may be sald said of confucius and loo tsai put but in the book of mormon mr phifer finds nothing new it iball in perfect accord with the filble arole often in the language of the bible itself this fact the author mentioned and many others consider an objection to the sacred record but the thoughtful student should not fall to recognize that fact as a strong argument in its favor from what we know of religious systems of human origin it is highly probable that an impostor in endeavoring to establish a new religion would have made an effort at startling the world with new and striking doctrines what form these would take would depend on circumstances but I 1 the principle itself is well illustrated in mohammedanism which teaches valor in war as the supreme virtue in which lays stress on ritual observances in jewish tradition which makes nationality a key to salvation not to mefi mention tion Sweden borgs religion with all its unfathomable mysteries it if the book of mormon is found to be different in this respect from all so called sacred records originated by the wisdom of man if it makes no attempt at satisfying mans curiosity regarding nr the mysteries of life on which ahers in vain have speculated but rests on the same lofty platform as the bible enunciating the same doctrines and declaring the same morality that certainly is a strong argument for its genuineness suppose the almighty had been pleased to communicate his will to the people living on this continent in a manner similar to that in which he revealed himself to the favored nation in the old world and for similar purposes the probability is that thata L the records contaInIng such and kept in widely se separated par parts ts wf of the earth would bear a strong resemblance to each other the teachings conveyed would certainly be the same even where the modes of expression were different the book of mormon is such a record it is not to be expected that it should contain in their falness the great truths revealed in these latter days any more than do the sacred records of the hebrews those truths trutha are there but rather in foundation than complete structures Aures just as in the old testament the doctrines of atonement ait immortality church etc are foreshadowed foreshadower fore shadowed the book of mormon will to the thoughtful student commend itself as the ancient record lit it claims to be contents and style testify to its antiquity |