DO YOU KNOW THAT SOMETIME ABOUND 1832 JOSEPH SMITH WROTE “A History of the life of Joseph Smith Jr. an account of his marvilous [sic] experiences and of all the mighty acts which he doeth in the name of Jesus Christ… and also on account of the rise of the church of Christ in the even of time…”? When Paul R. Cheesman inserted a transcript of this “history” in the appendix of his thesis, “AN ANALYSIS OF THE ACCOUNTS RELATING JOSEPH SMITH’S EARLY VISIONS,” in May 1965, he wrote, “This account was never published or referred to by any of the authorities ofthe church as faras the writer has been able to determine.” (Page 64).
In this history, Joseph Smith writes on page five (for the manuscript appears to be in Joseph Smith’s own handwriting) concerning Martin Harris and the characters referred to as the Anthon transcript. After explaining that Martin Harris gave him $50.00 to assist him in his expenses, Joseph states, “…and because of this faith and this righteous deed the Lord appeared unto him in a vision and showed unto him his marvelous work which he was about to do and immediately came to Susquehannah and said the Lord had shown him that he most go to New York City with some of the characters so we proceided [sic] to copy some of them and he took his Journey to the eastern City and to the learned saying read this I pray thee and the learned said I cannot but if he would bring the plates they would read it but the Lord had forbid it and he returned to me AND GAVE THEM TO ME TO TRANSLATE AND I SAID I CANNOT FOR I AM NOT LEARNED BUT THE LORD HAD PREPARED SPECTACLES FOR TO READ THEREFORE I COMMENCED TRANSLATING THE CHARACTERS and thus the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled which is written in the 29th chapter concerning the book.” (Page 131).
Sometime before publishing his book in 1834, E. D. Howe wrote Professor Charles Anthon concerning the frequent use of his name among some of the Book of Mormon preachers. It was claimed he had given the opinion that the engravings upon the plates of which he was shown the transcript were pronounced by him to he “reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics” or “ancient short hand Egyptian.” To this letter, Professor Anthon replied (in part)“The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be ‘reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics’ IS PERFECTLY FALSE…Some time ago a…farmer called on me with a note from Dr. Mitchell…requesting me to decipher, if possible, the paper which the farmer would hand me, and which Dr. M. confessed he had been UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND…The farmer added…he had resolved to come to New York, and obtain the opinion of the learned about the meaning of the paper which he had brought with him, and which had been given him as part of the contents of the book, ALTHOUGH NO TRANSLATION HAD BEEN FURNISHED AT THE TIME BY THE YOUNG MAN WITHTHE SPECTACLES. On hearing this odd story, I changed my opinion…instead of viewing it…as a hoax upon the learned, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money…” (Mormonism Unvailed, E. D. Howe, 1834, Pages 270-272).
With the evidence of what Martin Harris reported to Joseph Smith recorded in his 1832 history — in his own hand-writing much of which was verified by Professor Anthon’s 1834 letter — how could Joseph Smith published in 1842 the statement that Martin Harris told him that, “I went to the city of New York and presented THE CHARACTERS WHICH HAD BEEN TRANSLATED, WITH THE TRANSLATION THEREOF TO PROFESSOR ANTHONY…PROFESSOR ANTHONY STATED THAT THE TRANSLATION WAS CORRECT…HE SAID THAT THEY WERE THE TRUE CHARACTERS…AND THAT THE TRANSLATION OF SUCH OF THEM AS HAD BEEN TRANSLATED WAS ALSO CORRECT.” (Times end Seasons, MAy 2, 1842, Page 773)? Does not this show Book of Mormon believers that Joseph Smith had no regard for-the truth — even though he declared that the purpose of the Book of Mormon was to establish the truth? Such falsifying could only be done by one who wanted to deceive. Joseph Smith never realized that his first written history would someday be found and reveal his falsification. May God help Book of Mormon believers to see that this dilemma is really a delusion caused by the falsification of the one who gave you the Book of Mormon.
The Bible states, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” “…and that no lie is of the truth.” “…try the spirits whether they are of God: because MANY FALSE PROPHETSARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD.” “God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” for Peter tells us, He is that prophet which we are to “hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” The voice out of the cloud declared, “This IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED; HEAR YE HIM.” (1 Thess. 5:21, 1 John 2:21, 1 John 4:1, Heb. 4:1, Acts 3:22 and Matt. 17:5