Following that came our announcement that a new volume of scripture had been brought to light, and that God had spoken, not only to the Jews in the Old Testament and to the Christians in the New Testament, but that he had a people in these American continents to whom he sent wise men and prophets as instructors, and to whom he sent angels to minister in the things of God; and finally that the Son of God himself, after his resurrection from the dead, not only through forty days visited the apostles in Judea, but he made a visit to the inhabitants of these western continents and delivered to them his gospel, the glad tidings of salvation and revealed himself to them in his own proper and resurrected person, and testified of his having fulfilled the prophecies of their scriptures, as well as the prophecies in the Hebrew Old Testament. This volume of scripture called the Book of Mormon, after the principle compiler of it, an ancient prophet living in the fourth centuty A. D. This scripture announced also a tremendous expansion of the work of God in there western continents in the last days, among which was the remarkable statement that a holy city was to be founded, built up in these last days, called sometimes the New Jerusalem and sometimes Zion, meaning by that term a city of free people who would be pure in heart. For this is Zion, saith the Lord, the pure in heart.

Such a city according to the Book of Mormon would be built up to the glory of God in the last days. Naturally enough among the early disciples of this new dispensation of the gospel, that was then opening, the place where that city should be located, and how it would be built up, formed an item of great interest. Also it was made known in these American scriptures that the remnant of barbarous in the land were descendants of a mighty people who had inhabited the land in ancient times; people that had governments, kingdoms, republics, reigns of judges, and a civilization which perhaps was equal to the civilization of contemporary nations in Europe and Asia. Also it was made known that these remnants of the land were descendants of the house of Israel, and unto them great promises were made of redemption and returning favor with God.

. . .

We have got one more ray of light thrown upon this accumulating message to the world. This comes from the despised Book of Mormon. A message from God through a prophet of the Nephites brought to light by the revelations of God in these last days, and out to the world to help them to learn the truth at this sore hour of their need. When contemplating these high things the Prophet Lehi couched his message in such beauty that one may not doubt the inspiration of God in it.