[Book 3]

About this The 3 harvest time had now arrived since we opened our new farm and all the our sons were actively employed in assisting their Father to cut down the grain and storing it away in order, for winter One evening we were sitting till quite late conversing upon the subject of the diversity of churches that had risen up in the world and the many thousand opinions in existence as to the truths contained in scripture Joseph who never said many words upon any subject but always seemed to reflect more deeply than common persons of his age upon everything of a religious nature This After we ceased conversation he went to bed <​and was pondering in his mind which of the churches were the true one.​> an but he had not laid there long till <​he saw​> a bright <​light​> entered the room where he lay he looked up and saw an angel of the Lord stood <​standing​> by him The angel spoke [“]I perceive that you are enquiring in your mind which is the true church there is not a true church on Earth No not one Nor <​and​> has not been since Peter took the Keys <​of the Melchesidec priesthood after the order of God​> into the Kingdom of Heaven the churches that are now upon the Earth are all man made churches. Joseph there is a record for you and you must get it one day get it There is a record for you and Joseph when you have learned to keep the commandments of God but you cannot get it untill you learn to keep the commandments of God <​For it is not to get gain.​> For But it is to bring forth that light and intelligence which has been long lost in the Earth Now Joseph <​or​> beware <​or​> when you go to get the plates your mind will be filld with darkness and all man[n]er of evil will rush into your mind. To keep <​prevent​> you from keeping the commandments of God <​that you migh may not suceced in doing his work​> and you must tell your father of this for he will believe every word you say 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

The next <​day​> he <​and his father and​> his brother Alvin were reaping in the field togather when <​sudenly​> Joseph stopped and seemed to be in a deep Study for some time Alvin hurried <​him​> saying [“]Joseph we will must keep to work or we shall not get our store task done[“] Joseph worked again dilligently then stopped in the same way again <​a second time​> when alvin <​his father​> Saw that he look was very pale and urged him to go to the house to and tell his mother that he was sick he went a short distance till he came to a green sward under an apple tree here he lay down <​on his face​> for he was so weak he could go no farther. <​*​>

The personage whom he saw the night before came to him again and said [“]why did you not tell your father what I told you [“]Joseph said he was affraid his father would not believe him [“]he will[“] said the angel [“]believe every word you say to him[“] <​he then told you​> [“]when you get the record take it immediately into the house and lock it up as soon as possible and let no one see it till it is translated and then show it to such as the Lord chooses as a witness to the world now I will show you the difference between light and darkness and the operation of a <​good​> Spirit and an evil one an evil Spirit will try to crowd your mind with every evil and wicked thing to keep every good thought and feeling out of you your mind <​but you must keep your mind always staid upon God that that no evil may come into your heart​>[“] Joseph then promised to do as he was told by the angel and rose up and went to his brother Alvin and requested Alvin to go <​-[​> to the house and ask his Father to come to the field [“]for[“] Said he [“]I have something to tell him[“] when his Father went to him Joseph rehearsed to him all that he had and seen and heard When they came into the house in the evening <​Joseph​> They told made known to the whole family the wonderful things which Joseph had made known to him They Joseph told the whole family the wonderful things which had had been made known to Joseph When Joseph came in the evening he told all the <​whole​> family all that he had made known to his father in the field. we sat up up very late and listened attentively to all that he had to say to us but his mind had been so exercised that he became very much fatigued When Alvin saw this he said [“]now brother let us go to bed and we will get up early in the morning and go to work so as to finish our days labor by an an hour before sunset & if Mother will get our suppers early we will then have a fine long evening to <​and​> all set down and hear you talk[“] The next day they <​we​> worked with great ambition <​by sunset were ready to be seated and give our atten undivide[d] to Josephs recitals. and this pro before he began to explain to us the instructions which he had received he told charged us <​not​> to not to mention what he told us out of the family as the world was so wicked that if they when they did come to a knowledge of these things they would try to take our lives and as soon as we obtained the plates our names would be cast out as evil by all people​> and were ready by sunset to give our whole attention to the discoursing discourse of my son pertaining the obtaining of the plates the goodness of God his knowledge and power our a own liabillity to error and transgression and the great salvation that lay before the faithful [“]Now[“] said he [“]Father and Mother the angel of the Lord says that we must be careful not to proclaim these things or to mention them abroad For we do not any of us know the wickedness of the world which is so sinful and that where when we get the plates they will want to kill us for the sake of the gold if they know we had <​have​> them and as soon as they do find that we pretend to have any such thing our names will be cast out as evil and we shall be scoffed at and I and all maner of evil spoken Concerning us[“] This astonished us very much <​-[​>and we wondered in our hearts how these things could be so why any one could have a disposition to take our lives merely for a thing like this. The He then said [“]But[“] <​he continued​> [“]if we are wise and prudent in all things <​that​> which <​are​> is revealed to <​us​> God is able to make all things known to us[.] do you believe it[?]” Said he to his Father [“]why yes certainly[“] answered Mr. Smith [“]he has all power and wisdom Knowledge and understanding and of course can teach us all things if we are worthy and we will try to live in such a [way?] as to deserve the fa The favor of God that he may be pleased to instruct from day to day["]— From this time forth Joseph continued to receive instructions from time to time and every evening we gathered our children togather And gave our our time up to the discussion of those things which he imparted <​un​> to us I think that <​we​> presented the most peculiar aspect of any family that ever lived upon the Earth all seated round in a circle father Mother sons and Daughters listening in breathless anxiety to the <​religious​> teachings of a boy 16 <​19​> y[e]ars of age who had never read the Bible through by course in his life for Joseph was less inclined to the study of books than any child we had but much more given to reflection and deep study We were convinced that God was about to bring to light something that we might stay our minds upon some thing that we could get a more definite idea of than anything which had been taught us heretofore and we rejoiced in it with exceeding great joy Uni the sweetest union and happiness pervaded our house no jar nor discord disturbed our peace and tranquility reigned in our midst In the course of our evening conversations Joseph would give us some of the most ammusing recitals which could be immagined he would de[s]cribe the ancient inhabitants of this continent their dress thier maner of traveling the animals which they rode The cities that were built by them the structure of their buildings with every particular of their mode of warfare their religious worship as particularly as though he had Spent his life with them it will be recollected by the reader that all that I mentioned and much more took place within the compass of one short year

The angel informed him at one time that he might make an effort to obtain the plates <​on​> the <​22nd of the​> ensueing September and if <​he visited the place where the plates were laid . . . [>]