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Clarity antonyms

Some Latter-day Saints seek clarity, charity and understanding, as discussed on nomorecontention.com.

Others seek the opposite of clarity, often in the ongoing effort to promote SITH and M2C. We’ll look at a couple of examples below.

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Here are some antonyms of clarity.

ambiguity

obscurity

equivocation

vagueness

uncertainty 

confusion

opaqueness

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Let’s look at some examples from Book of Mormon Central. There are dozens of such examples from Book of Mormon Central, the Interpreter, Meridian Magazine, etc. 

In every case, the scholars seek to repudiate the teachings of the prophets by introducing uncertainty, ambiguity, confusion, etc.

The M2C/SITH scholars continually stir up contention and controversy because their contrived theories of SITH and M2C are so obviously and directly refuted by the unambiguous statements from Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.

Fortunately, more and more Latter-day Saints are educating themselves about the actual teachings of the prophets instead of relying on these scholars to “guide” them.

Clarity

Ambiguity, confusion, equivocation, etc.

Oliver
Cowdery: “the fact, that here, between these hills, the entire power
and national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites were destroyed.”

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/90

“Not
much is known about the land and hill Cumorah…. There is a controversy,
however, about the Hill Cumorah–––not about the location where the Book of
Mormon plates were found, but whether it is the hill under that name near
which Nephite events took place.”https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/where-is-the-location-of-the-hill-cumorah

Lucy Mack
Smith: “the record is on a side hill on the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this
place remove the Grass and moss and you will find a large flat stone pry that
up and you will find the record under it laying on 4 pillars <​of
cement​>— then the angel left him.” https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41

There is “no
historical evidence that Moroni called the hill ‘Cumorah’ in 1823” during his
first encounter with the Prophet Joseph Smith…. Since these statements are
somewhat late recollections, coming after the identity of Cumorah as a hill
near Palmyra, New York, had become widespread, they should be used
cautiously.” https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/where-is-the-location-of-the-hill-cumorah

 

 

Joseph Smith:
“I obtained them, and the Urim and Thummim with them; by the means of which,
I translated

the plates;
and thus came the book of Mormon.” https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/elders-journal-july-1838/11

Unfortunately,
the historical sources on Joseph’s use of these instruments during the
translation are sometimes contradictory or ambiguous. For example, even
eyewitness participants in the translation of the Book of Mormon sometimes
confused the terminology in their descriptions of the event. “These two
instruments—the interpreters and the seer stone—were apparently
interchangeable and worked in much the same way such that, in the course of
time, Joseph Smith and his associates often used the term ‘Urim and Thummim’
to refer to the single stone as well as the interpreters.” https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-was-a-stone-used-as-an-aid-in-translating-the-book-of-mormon

 

 

Source: About Central America

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Portsmouth site

Portsmouth, Ohio, is on the Ohio river about 90 miles south of Columbus. I’ve visited here a few times and highly recommend the site (as well as the other sites in Ohio).

Portsmouth is the location of a complex of earthworks dating from 100 BC to 500 AD, built by Adena and Hopewell cultures. Across the river in Kentucky is an unusual earthwork that was plowed up for cattle grazing.

Squier and Davis survey (click to enlarge)

There’s a nice overview with references on wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_Earthworks

This site has some additional info:

https://earthworks.site/index.php/portsmouth-earthworks

Blue lines show the embankment walls


Greg Little tweeted about it recently:

Gregory L Little, Ed.D.

@DrGregLittle2

1. 1800s survey of another portion of the Portsmouth, Ohio earthworks. It was located across the Ohio River in Kentucky. The exact location is known. 2. This is the spot where the central mound shown on the survey existed and the owner of the site is on the left. He related that his grandfather leveled the mound and intricate circular earthworks to make a cattle grazing area. He also related that his grandfather came to regret it.


Source: Letter VII

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Heber C. Kimball visit to Cumorah

In the interest of clarity, charity and understanding, we want everyone to know what Heber C. Kimball said about Cumorah.

Heber joined the Church in western New York in 1832. Before leaving for Kirtland, he visited Cumorah because of its historic significance as the site of the final battle of the Nephites and Jaredites.

Few M2C promoters/believers know about Heber’s experience. To the extent they do, they simply claim Heber was speculating and was wrong, just like Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, David Whitmer, Lucy Mack Smith, and everyone else who contradicted the M2C theory.

In a way, it’s funny to see the M2Cers deny what we can all see plainly. But in another way, it’s tragic.

The M2Cers are not the only ones who oppose clarity, charity and understanding with respect to the New York Cumorah. Church historians forgot to include Cumorah in the Saints books. The historical record about the New York Cumorah has never been included in Church historical exhibits at Cumorah in New York or anywhere else. 

In September, for the 200th commemoration of Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith, the Church History Department won’t even mention the actual historical record about Cumorah, including Heber’s account.

The book Life of Heber C. Kimball relates the account (click to enlarge):

https://archive.org/details/lifeofheberckimb00whitrich/page/40/mode/2up?q=Cumorah

Transcript:

Heber remarks that the death-bed scene of this zealous and devoted Saint was to him another testimony of the truth and power of the everlasting gospel. Vilate Kimball took charge of Miriam’s two little daughters, and, thenceforth, until after they removed from Mendon, the families of Brigham and Heber were as one.

In the meantime, the latter had been ordained an Elder, under the hands of Joseph Young, and labored with him and Brigham in the ministry. They visited Genesee, Avon and Lyonstown, baptizing many and building up branches of the Church. The following incident, related by Heber, shows how powerfully the Holy Ghost wrought through him in his ministrations :

“Brother Ezra Landon preached in Avon and Genesee, baptized eighteen or twenty, and being afraid to confirm them and promise the Holy Ghost, he requested me to confirm them, which I did according to the best of my knowledge, pronouncing but a few words on the head of each one, and invariably saying, ‘receive ye the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus Christ. ‘ Immediately the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and several commenced speaking in tongues before they arose from their knees, and we had a joyful time. Some ten or twelve spoke in tongues, neither of whom had ever heard any person speak in tongues before, they being the first baptized in that place.”

The region in which he was laboring is thus interestingly described :

“From the time Father Bosley located near Avon, he found and plowed up axes and irons, and had sufficient to make his mill irons, and had always abundance of iron on hand without purchasing. .

“In the towns of Bloomfield, Victor, Manchester, and in the regions round about, there were hills upon the tops of which were entrenchments and fortifications, and in them were human bones, axes, tomahawks, points of arrows, beads and pipes, which were frequently found ; and it was a common occurrence in the country to plow up axes, which I have done many times myself.

“I have visited the fortifications on the tops of those hills frequently, and the one near Bloomfield I have crossed hundreds of times, which is on the bluff of Honeyoye River, at the outlet of Honeyoye Lake.

“In that region there are many small deep lakes, and in some of them the bottom has never been found. Fish abound in them.

“The hill Cumorah is a high hill for that country, and had the appearance of a fortification or entrenchment around it. In the State of New York, probably there are hundreds of these fortifications which are now visible, and I have seen them in many other parts of the United States.”

Readers of the Book of Mormon will remember that in this very region, according to that sacred record, the final battles were fought between the Nephites and Lamanites. At the hill Cumorah, the Nephites made their last stand prior to their utter extermination, A. D.,

Thus was Heber preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, above the graves of the ancients of Israel, whose records with the fullness of that Gospel, and the relics of their prowess and civilization, were now “whispering from the dust.”

Source: About Central America

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Some youtube videos

I was recently asked for a list of all my youtube interviews and videos. It’s a good idea that I hadn’t thought of compiling before. 

Usually people ask about the origin and setting of the Book of Mormon; i.e., the translation and Cumorah. I’m happy to participate in the pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding. 

You may notice that while a variety of people have had me on their shows, none of the M2C/SITH promoters have invited me. Instead of having me on to explain my views directly, they prefer to criticize from a distance and misrepresent me to their viewers. Which is what we’ve come to expect from the M2C/SITH crowd, sadly.

Nevertheless, there are many viewing options on youtube already. Until I have a chance to compile more of them, here are a few.

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Webinar with ScriptureNotes from two days ago on Restoring Translation to the Restoration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjnwXw95UZM

Mormon Book Reviews on Heartlanders, critics, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI3OfJENWFc&t=22s

Mormon Book Reviews on Jonathan Edwards.

Gospel Tangents on Lehi’s crossing the Atlantic. This is one part of several that I’ve done with Gospel Tangents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI8ydV7MoCA&t=10s

CWIC Media conversation about Cumorah. We also had a conversation about the translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pbIukDC7K0&t=297s

Backyard Professor (Kerry Shirts) on Heartland geography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w65qupDVbmM&t=3288s

Several years ago I uploaded some videos on the Moroni’s America channel. They could stand some updating, but they’re still useful.

Here’s one on Scholars vs Prophets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6zEZmA0cEE&t=5s

Source: About Central America

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Cumorah: 1823, 1923, 2023

It’s quite interesting to compare the treatment of Cumorah over two centuries. In upcoming posts, we’ll comment further on Cumorah in 2023. This post is a brief overview.
In 2023, we hope to see a change in the Church History Department toward more accuracy and openness, with less promotion of current academic agendas (such as M2C and SITH).
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1823. Moroni tells Joseph Smith about Cumorah.
the record is on a side hill on the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this place remove the Grass and moss and you will find a large flat stone pry that up and you will find the record under it laying on 4 pillars <​of cement​>
The identity of Cumorah is well-known during Joseph’s lifetime and taught as a fact (in sharp and direct contrast to speculation about other Book of Mormon settings).
1923. The Church’s efforts to purchase the Hill Cumorah, starting in 1909, remained unsuccessful (but would succeed in 1928). 
Elder B.H. Roberts became the Mission President in the Eastern states.
Having previously served as assistant Church historian, Roberts selected the Eastern States mission because “it had the attraction of including within it the territory of the early activities of the church . . . and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.”5

After a general mission tour, President Roberts announced in 1923 an ambitious mission conference. With the permission of Pliny Sexton, all of the 140 missionaries scattered across 11 states gathered for three days in September at the Smith Farm and Hill Cumorah in honor of the centennial of Moroni’s first visit to Joseph Smith in September 1823. The missionaries were expected to preach along the way, wearing bright blue banners with “Cumorah” printed in bold, white letters. The conference was so successful that afterward an annual “Palmyra Celebration” was on the mission calendar.
Cumorah missionaries in 1923

2023. As the 200th anniversary of Moroni’s visit nears, we naturally expect the Church History Department to offer open, candid, and complete information about the Hill Cumorah.
So far, it doesn’t look good.
In recent years, the Church History Department has exhibited a determined effort to mislead Latter-day Saints about the history of Cumorah. 
Having diminished Cumorah as merely “a hill in New York” in the Saints book, volume 1, the Church History Department continues to obfuscate the historical record regarding the hill Cumorah in New York.
Let’s start with a few examples.
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Example 1. The Cumorah entry on the Church’s website misrepresents the origin of the name and avoids citations to the actual historical record.
“In the 1820s, the hill did not have a name. It later became known as Hill Cumorah because Moroni, the Book of Mormon’s final author and the angel who met with Joseph Smith, wrote that he had hidden the gold plates in a hill called Cumorah (see the introduction to the Book of Mormon).”
Note that they refer to the “introduction to the Book of Mormon.” Here’s the passage:
After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the Hill Cumorah.
We can all see that the passage in the Introduction does not state what the Church historians claim. Why would they cite the “introduction” instead of the actual reference?
The actual historical reference for Moroni explaining he deposited the plates in Cumorah is Lucy Mack Smith’s account, quoted above. But that contradicts the claim by the historians that “in the 1820s, the hill did not have a name.” Actually, as we see in Lucy’s statement, Moroni identified the hill as Cumorah in 1823. It was so well known that Joseph referred to it as Cumorah even before he got the plates and his parents knew exactly which hill he referred to.
Misrepresentations such as this, right on the Church’s website, cause confusion and even disbelief.
A historically accurate explanation would read like this:

Current explanation

Corrected

In the 1820s, the hill did not have a
name. It later became known as Hill Cumorah because Moroni, the Book of
Mormon’s final author and the angel who met with Joseph Smith, wrote that he
had hidden the gold plates in a hill called Cumorah (see the introduction to
the Book of Mormon).

The historical record indicates that
the hill became known as Cumorah when Moroni identified it as such during his
first visit to Joseph Smith in 1823. Joseph’s mother, Lucy Mack Smith,
related what Moroni told Joseph that night: “the record is on a side hill on
the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this place.”

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41

 
We won’t hold our breath waiting for this correction on the Church’s website, but we’ll watch to see if it does get corrected.
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Example 2.
Here, the caption to a historical photo not only ignores the historical identification of the hill in New York as the actual Cumorah/Ramah, but seeks to separate it from the Book of Mormon’s Cumorah/Ramah.

THE HILL CUMORAH

George Anderson

Photographs

Cumorah is the hill and area recorded in the Book of Mormon where the Nephites and Lamanites fought a final battle in which the Nephite people were annihilated. Moroni reported that Cumorah was also the site where the Jaredites were earlier destroyed. In our era, the Hill Cumorah is a drumlin-hill between the towns of Palmyra and Manchester, New York, where the gold plates of the Book of Mormon, deposited by an ancient religious leader in a stone box, was unearthed, translated by the American Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., and published in 1830. In 1928 the LDS Church purchased the site and in 1935 erected a monument commemorating the visit of the Angel Moroni. Later, the Church built a visitors center at the base of the hill. Since 1937, the Church has produced the annual outdoor Cumorah Pageant. This image looking southwest a century ago, was taken when the hill was less wooded than today.

THE HILL CUMORAH – George Anderson

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Example 3. The inexcusable, deplorable censorship of Cumorah from the Saints book (Vol. 1), continues, with no perceptible effort to correct the problem or revise the text. 
Some years ago, two of the historians responded to my posts about Saints but in so doing only exacerbated the problem, as I discussed here: https://saintsreview.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-historians-explain-censorship-in.html.
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Source: About Central America

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Moroni’s America and the 4th of July

In the interest of clarity, charity and understanding, I thought we should review something I’ve discussed before about the 4th of July. On the 4th of July in 1854, Orson Hyde explained that Moroni is the guardian angel of the United States of America.


That’s one reason why I titled my book on the setting of the Book of Mormon Moroni’s America.


Most Latter-day Saints who know anything about Orson Hyde know he was the Apostle who dedicated Israel for the gathering of the Jews.

Not many know he was President of the Quorum of the Twelve from December 27, 1847, to April 10, 1875. That makes him by far the longest-serving President of the Quorum.

In my view, Orson Hyde has far more credibility than our modern politically correct M2C advocates who falsely accuse the “Heartlanders” of being motivated primarily by “nationalism.”

See what you think.

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Orson Hyde

Orson Hyde joined the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, in October 1831. He served several missions, marched with Zion’s Camp, participated in Church leadership in Kirtland, and was ordained an Apostle in February, 1835, as one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve.

The Joseph Smith Papers has a short biography here: 

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/orson-hyde

Wikipedia also has a short biography here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Hyde

(click to enlarge)

He is well known in Church history as the Apostle who dedicated Israel for the ingathering of the Jews in October, 1841. 

The Orson Hyde Memorial Garden in Jerusalem commemorates the event. 

When I first visited Jerusalem many years ago, the garden featured a metal plaque inscribed with Hyde’s prayer in both English and Hebrew. The last few times I visited there the plaque was gone because it had been vandalized. 

The stone marker that explains the name of the park still stands, however. It is written in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. (Unfortunately, there’s a typo in the engraving that you can see if you enlarge the photo.)

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At a July 4th celebration in 1854, Orson Hyde spoke about Moroni. This was seven years before the Civil War began.

He reviewed American history briefly and noted the role Moroni played.

In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on our banner? It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones, and remains of towns, cities, and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. 

…

Would to God that we could forget this part of our experience in the land of our fathers! But we cannot forget it. It is incorporated in our being. We shall carry it to our graves, and in the resurrection it will rise with us. Had the United States been as faithful a guardian to the Latter-day Saints as the angel of God has been to them, she would never know dissolution, nor be humbled in dishonor by the decrees of any foreign powers.

I ask no earthly being to endorse this my testimony, or to adopt it as his own sentiment. A little time will prove whether Orson Hyde alone has declared it, or whether the heavenly powers will back up this testimony in the face of all the world.

When Justice is satisfied, and the blood of martyrs atoned for, the guardian angel of America will return to his station, resume his charge, and restore the Constitution of our country to the respect and veneration of the people; for it was given by the inspiration of our God.

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The full text:

CELEBRATION OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

An Address by Elder Orson Hyde, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, July 4, 1854.

Reported by Unknown.

Respected Friends and Fellow Citizens—I am called upon, by the wishes and voice of many persons, to be one of your speakers on this ever memorable day. While I congratulate myself upon the honor which you have done me by this selection, I sincerely regret that I am not more amply qualified to answer your expectations. But humble as my efforts may be on this occasion, they are the more freely offered, knowing that the ears and hearts of a generous people will make every allowance for any deficiency that may appear in the style and subject matter of my discourse.

The bursts of eloquence that have thundered from this stand this morning cannot fail to have awakened in the minds of the audience notions and views so enlarged, that it becomes a very difficult task for your present speaker to sustain and carry forward the interest and excitement with which your minds have already been fired by the speakers that have preceded me.

We are met, fellow citizens, to celebrate one of the most important events that ever embellished the pages of political history—an event of which every American heart is proud to boast, in whatever land or country he perchance may roam—I mean the bold, manly, and daring act of our fathers in the Declaration of the Independence and Sovereignty of these United States—an act worthy to be engraven in letters of living light upon the tablets of our memory, and to be transmitted to our children, with the sacred charge that they teach it to their children, and to their children’s children, till the “stripes and stars” float over every land, and are mirrored on the crest of every passing billow. They had not only the moral courage to sign the Declaration of our nation’s Independence, but hearts of iron and nerves of steel to defend it by force of arms against the fearful odds arrayed against them—the well-disciplined armies and mercenary allies of the foolish and tyrannical George the III, King of Great Britain.

The progressive spirit of the times, on the one hand, and the chains of cruelty and oppression, on the other, inspired the apostles of American freedom to raise the standard of liberty, and unfurl its banner to the world as a warning to oppressors, and as the star of hope to the oppressed. The very name of America causes a thrill of patriotic devotion to her best interests to quiver in the heart of every citizen of Utah, with a zeal and a pride for the welfare of our country that does honor to the memory of those departed heroes whose ashes are mingled in our soil, and made rich and dear to us by their own blood.

Remember Lexington, and Bunker Hill, and lastly Yorktown, with all the intermediate scenes as narrated in the history of the American Revolution! Remember the immortal Washington, chosen to lead our infant armies through the perils and hardships of an unequal contest, to the climax of victory and the pinnacle of fame! His name, embalmed in the never-dying sympathies of his grateful countrymen, will be heralded in the melody of song, “while the earth bears a plant or the ocean rolls a wave.” While Columbia’s sons and daughters regret and mourn his exit hence in accents like the following—

“Cold is the heart where valor reigned,

Mute is the tongue that joy inspired,

Still is the arm that conquest gained,

And dim the eye that glory fired,”

They will comfort themselves and quiet the pangs of their bereaved hearts by chanting like this—

“Too mean for him a world like this;

He’s landed on the happy shore,

Where all the brave partake of bliss,

And heroes meet to part no more.”

In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on our banner? It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones, and remains of towns, cities, and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. 

He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world.

This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World. Trammeled by poverty and by an unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow an obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God helped him—was with him on the stormy deep, calmed the troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven. Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water.

To what point have the American arms been directed since the Declaration of our National Independence, and proven unsuccessful? Not one!

The peculiar respect that high Heaven has for this country, on account of the promises made to the fathers, and on account of its being the land where the mustard seed of truth was planted and destined to grow in the last days, accounts for all this good fortune to our beloved America.

But since the Prophets have been slain, the Saints persecuted, despoiled of their goods, banished from their homes, and no earthly arm to interpose for their rescue, what will be the future destiny of this highly-favored country? Should I tell the truth as it clearly passes before my mind’s eye, my friends might censure me, and I might be regarded as an enemy to my country. If I should not tell the truth, but withhold it to please men, or to avoid giving offense to any, I might be regarded, by the powers celestial, as the enemy of God. What shall I do under these circumstances? Shall I be guilty of the crime of hesitating for a moment? No. Neither time nor place to hesitate now.

Were I called upon to give evidence before a court of justice in a case to which my own father was a party litigant, the foolish might regard me as opposed to my father, if conscience, justice, and truth directed me to testify against his interest; but the wise would regard me as possessing that integrity that kindred ties could not swerve nor decoy from the truth and facts in the case. My testimony in relation to the country that gave me birth, that gave birth to my father and my father’s father, is given upon the same principle, and prompted by a similar motive.

So sure and certain as the great water courses wend their way to the ocean, and there find their level—so sure as the passing thundercloud hovers around yonder Twin Peaks of the Wasatch Mountains, and upon their grey and barren rocks pours the fury of its storm, just so sure and certain will the guardian angel of these United States fly to a remote distance from their borders, and the anger of the Almighty wax hot against them in causing them to drink from the cup of bitterness and division, and the very dregs, stirred up by the hands of foreign powers, in a manner more cruel and fierce than the enemies of the Saints in the day of their greatest distress and anguish; and all this because they laid not to heart the martyrdom of the Saints and Prophets, avenged not their blood by punishing the murderers, neither succored nor aided the Saints after they were despoiled of their goods and homes.

Would to God that we could forget this part of our experience in the land of our fathers! But we cannot forget it. It is incorporated in our being. We shall carry it to our graves, and in the resurrection it will rise with us. Had the United States been as faithful a guardian to the Latter-day Saints as the angel of God has been to them, she would never know dissolution, nor be humbled in dishonor by the decrees of any foreign powers.

I ask no earthly being to endorse this my testimony, or to adopt it as his own sentiment. A little time will prove whether Orson Hyde alone has declared it, or whether the heavenly powers will back up this testimony in the face of all the world.

When Justice is satisfied, and the blood of martyrs atoned for, the guardian angel of America will return to his station, resume his charge, and restore the Constitution of our country to the respect and veneration of the people; for it was given by the inspiration of our God.

One positive decree of Jehovah, respecting this land, is, that no king shall ever be raised up here, and that whosoever seeketh to raise up a king upon this land shall perish. The spirit of this decree is that no king shall bear rule in this country. And the islands contiguous to this land belong unto it by promise, for they are a part and parcel of the land of Joseph, and they geographically belong to it—belong to it by the covenants of the fathers: they also philosophically  incline to this nearer and greater land.

Europe may look with a jealous eye upon the movements of this country, and contemplate the settlement and adjustment of a “Western question.” But at present there is an Eastern question pending; and it may be wisdom and policy for the United States’ Government to press the adjustment of the Western question simultaneously with that of the Eastern question. If the Western question is settled at all, now is the time for the United States to settle it to the best advantage.

In case of a general war, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, which we have every reason to expect, it will be remembered that we have an extensive coast to defend, not only east and southerly, but also in the west. The transportation of troops will be unavoidable; and the sad and melancholy fate of many destined for the western coast by sea, around the southern cape, should admonish the Government to spare no pains or expense to construct a railroad with all dispatch across the continent, passing through the head and center of Utah Territory; particularly as the transportation of soldiers and the munitions of war are among the less weighty reasons why a railroad should be constructed, connecting the Missouri River with the Pacific coast.

But to confine ourselves for a moment to things within our own Basin. Since the celebration, last year, of our nation’s birth, two of our great and good men have fallen by the hand of death—Doctor Willard Richards and Patriarch John Smith. In them the citizens of Utah have lost true and devoted friends; the country, patriots; the Church, able advocates and defenders; and large families, kind and affectionate husbands and fathers; also several most excellent men shot down by the hostile savage from his ambush. Much suffering has been occasioned by the Indian war. Many of our crops went to waste last year, by reason of it, which has occasioned rather a scanty supply of food. But thanks be to God, never have the fields of the valleys smiled with such glowing prospects of abundant harvest as at the present time.

It is true that some of our settlements lost almost every head of stock they had, by the Indians, last summer, and have been compelled to cultivate their lands with few horses and oxen; yet the extensive fields of wheat now waving in the breeze and fast ripening in the sun are almost incredible.

Praise and thanksgiving be unto our God! This year we have had peace with the red men, and plenty is about to crown the labors of the husbandman.

If the United States are dissatisfied with the expenditure of the twenty thousand dollars appropriated for the building of a State House in this Territory, because a house was purchased that was already built, instead of building one, I have no hesitancy in expressing my conviction that a Government draft on us for the amount would be duly honored ten days from sight, or ten minutes, perhaps. Our Indian wars and other necessary and indispensable drafts upon our time and money in this new country have prevented us from building a house; and we, therefore, have been under the necessity of purchasing a very good and commodious one, built before our Indian troubles were so serious. My voice would be to pay back the twenty thousand dollars! And as the expenses of the war have been wholly borne by us, without a dime’s appropriation for that purpose having yet reached us, we may expect to rely wholly on our own resources and upon the arm of our God.

If we are deemed abundantly able to foot the bill of the entire expenses of the war, pay back the twenty thousand dollars to the Government, build our own State House, or occupy the one already built, and even then support whole omnibuses full of wives and children, though proscribed as we are from the benefits of the Land Bill, the people of the United States must allow that we far excel all other portions of their population in real smartness.

God and our country, now and forever, one and inseparable!

(1850s1854, OH Celebration–OH Celebration ¶25 • JD 6:367–JD 6:371)

Source: About Central America

Uncategorized

The Times and Seasons in Nauvoo

Yesterday we were in Nauvoo. I attended the commemoration ceremony at the graves of Joseph, Hyrum and Emma. It was a wonderful event with lots of period music and other presentations.

While there, I spent some time with Paul DeBarthe, an archaeologist who is part of the team at idignauvoo.

https://idignauvoo.legacyshare.org/

Paul has done some awesome work on Nauvoo. We visited several sites, including the Times and Seasons site at the corner of Bain and Water streets. He explained the latest findings that I don’t have time to write about here, but I’ll discuss in upcoming podcasts and presentations.

Here’s a photo showing some of the discoveries from the latest dig:

This visit to Nauvoo reminded me of previous visits, as well as the Benjamin Winchester saga I wrote about many years ago. 

https://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2015/02/the-of-mesoamerican-model.html

Some of the M2Cers are still going around telling people that Joseph Smith wrote the anonymous 1842 Times and Seasons articles that claimed ruins in Central America were left by Nephites. Hard to imagine that anyone still believes that, but people can believe whatever they want.

Of course, none of those articles repudiated the New York Cumorah. Letter VII was published in the Times and Seasons in 1841, and in D&C 128:20 Joseph explained that Moroni identified the hill as Cumorah before he even got the plates, but our M2Cers nevertheless reject the teachings of the prophets about Cumorah.

And that’s fine–so long as they are clear about what they believe and teach!

🙂

Source: About Central America

Uncategorized

Cumorah Academy

One bright spot of the Church in Eastern Europe is the Cumorah Academy.

The Cumorah Academy is located in the countryside south of Prague. We visited in May and were very impressed with everything going on there. If any readers here know people in Europe, encourage participation with this group.
I warmly applaud efforts such as this to bring positive, uplifting and enabling education to Latter-day Saints everywhere.
Here is a banner from their website. (click to enlarge)

We heard President Nelson teach this concept when we attended his regional conference in Singapore in 2019.

Source: About Central America