JS recalls the discovery of Z's remains and the visions accompanying it.

Date
Jan 1, 1846
Type
Periodical
Source
Joseph Smith, Jr.
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reprint
Reference

"History of Joseph Smith," Times and Seasons 6, no. 20, January 1, 1846, 1076

Scribe/Publisher
John Taylor, Times and Seasons
People
Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, Jr., Zelph
Audience
Reading Public, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Transcription

We encamped on the bank of the river until Tuesday the 3rd during our travels we visited several of the mounds which had been thrown up be the ancient inhabitants of this county, Nephites, Lamanites, &c., and this morning I went up on a high mound, near the river, accompanied by the brethren. From this mound we could overlook the tops of the trees and view the prairie on each side of the river as far as our vision could extend, and the scenery was truly delightful. On the top of the mound were stones which presented the appearance of three alters having been erected one above the other, according to ancient order; and human bones were strewn over the surface of the ground. The brethren procured a shovel and hoe, and removing the earth to the depth of about one foot discovered skeleton of a man, almost entire, and between his ribs was a Lamanitish arrow, which evidently produced his death, Elder Brigham Young retained the arrow and the brethren carried some pieces of the skeleton to Clay county. The contemplation of the scenery before us produced peculiar sensations in our bosoms; and the visions of the past being opened to my understanding by the spirit of the Almighty I discovered that the person whose skeleton was before us, was a white Lamanite, a large thick set man, and a man of God. He was a warrior and chieftain under the great prophet Omandagus, who was know from the hill Cumorah, or Eastern sea, to the Rocky Mountains. His name was Zelph. The curse was taken from him or at least, in part; one of his thigh bones was broken, by a stone flung from a sling, while in battle, by the arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lamanites and Nephites.

BHR Staff Commentary

Note that this is a reprint of the manuscript history of the church, but it leaves in parts that the manuscript history had redacted. This printing happened after Joseph was dead. He was there to oversee what was recorded in the manuscript history, and the redactions are in the handwriting of Wilmer Benson, but it's unclear when those were made or why, or why they were ignored when this was printed.

It's important to note that the redactions take out the identification of the Hill Cumorah, and remove the Nephites from the history, meaning Zelph was killed in a great battle among Lamanites, but not the last battle that is recorded in the end of the Book of Mormon as this reprint can make it seem.

Citations in Mormonr Qnas
Copyright © B. H. Roberts Foundation
The B. H. Roberts Foundation is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.