A Voice of Warning, Parley P. Pratt [classic books for 11 year olds txt] 📗

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 God ever revealed. Men there testify, not only that they have seen and handled the plates, but that an angel of God came down from heaven, and presented the plates before them, while the glory of God shone round about them, and the voice of God spoke from heaven, and told them that these things were true, and had been translated by the gift and power of God, and commanded them to bear record of the same to all people.

Blessed be the Lord God 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 God, 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 God'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 God." 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 God 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 lusts, 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 God has sent us with the truth, to prune His vineyard for the last time, with a mighty pruning.

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

First, says Mr. Boudinot: "It is said among their principal 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 circumstances 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, Mass., 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 anticipated. 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