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INTRODUCTION
Everyone who writes a book has a reason. My reason began
with my love for research and my great interest in history -
the kind of history that is fact, not fiction. To any true
historian, one genuine piece of information from an original
source is far more valuable than an interestingly devised
"tale" that can not be authenticated, therefore, over thirty
years of research went into this publication. Information
for this work was taken from original material that was
available.
The study commenced with a published copy of Joseph Smith's
revised King James version of the Bible; first editions of
church newspapers such as "The Evening and Morning Star" and
"The Times and Seasons" which had been photographed and
published into book form; and, Wilford Wood's two volumes
entitled "Joseph Smith Begins His Work" which were
photographic copies of the "Lectures on Faith" that were
taught in the School of the Prophets, the first publication
in 1833 of the revelations known then as "The Book of
Commandments," the 1835 publication of the same, entitled
"The Doctrine and Covenants" and the first publication of
the Book of Mormon. I began comparing these early
publications with recent publications and began to notice
changes, deletions and additions that sometimes appeared
contradictory in nature. From there I went to some of the
diaries of Joseph Smith that are now being published into
book form and found that there were principles that I had
been taught, which Joseph's successors claimed he had
taught, that could not be authenticated except through
"additions" that were inserted in the handwriting of someone
other than the original scribe.
This was not particularly surprising to me as I had observed
from studying history that even if the truth were first
recorded, it, after going through much editing, usually
didn't remain so. Much of what has been published as fact
has proven to be a figment of someone's imagination and the
researcher after truth is a witness to this time and time
again.
I had already gained a testimony of much that was restored
and as the Holy Spirit is given to help us discern truth
from error I was sure that that in question would be
resolved sooner or later.
One day as I was going through my collection of church books
my hand came to rest on "The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith" compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith. Thumbing through
the pages my eye caught a paragraph underlined in red pencil
on page 29 which read as follows:
"You remember the testimony which I bore in the name of the
Lord Jesus, concerning the great work which He has brought
forth in the last days. You know my manner of communication,
how that in weakness and simplicity, I declared to you what
the Lord had brought forth by the ministering of His holy
angels to me for this generation. I pray that the Lord may
enable you to treasure these things in your mind, for I know
that His Spirit will bear testimony to all who seek
diligently after knowledge from Him. I HOPE YOU WILL
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE WHETHER THESE THINGS ARE NOT
ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THOSE THINGS WHICH THE ANCIENT PROPHETS
AND APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN.
"
To compare the President of this Dispensation of the
Fullness of Times with what the ancient prophets and
apostles had written I was sure would be rewarding,
especially if what Joseph had restored would prove to be
consistent. Therefore, I decided to only use the information
I could trace directly to Joseph Smith and so for this study
I would go - BACK TO THE ORIGINAL! Since everything is
quoted in its original form there are no corrections in
spelling or punctuation.
Research was focused on one single subject at a time and
when all the available information was gathered it was
evaluated. I had found it an unwise course to pursue, to
take scriptures out of context, as this process does not
give the complete story and, therefore, prevents the full
focus of truth coming into view. I would also like to advise
the reader that the same applies to this book. Very often
the understanding of one chapter is dependent on having read
that which preceded the chapter. The conclusions I have
drawn on any subject are simply that - my conclusions.
Information from other sources that was consistent has been
used as supplementary material since Joseph Smith has
informed us that there are no limits or bounds in the Church
to receiving light and knowledge:
Journal, Page 203 ".... the most prominent difference in
sentiment between the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was,
that THE LATTER WERE ALL CIRCUMSCRIBED BY SOME PECULIAR
CREED, WHICH DEPRIVED ITS MEMBERS THE PRIVILEGE OF BELIEVING
ANYTHING NOT CONTAINED THEREIN, whereas THE
LATTER-DAY SAINTS HAVE NO CREED, BUT ARE READY TO BELIEVE
ALL TRUE PRINCIPLES THAT EXIST, AS THEY ARE MADE MANIFEST
FROM TIME TO TIME."
From this endeavor I have become acquainted with the Eternal
Father's beautiful plan of love and mercy for the salvation
of ALL - none excluded, and I feel I have become well
acquainted with Joseph. I have learned of his humility,
strength and intelligence as a Prophet of God, and I have
also been made aware of his weaknesses as a man. All is in
the record and available to the student of research.
Therefore, for those who seek only to defame him or for
those who seek only to exalt him the information is
available, but this book is an effort to cover the whole
picture and draw a conclusion which is, that a man in
weakness can be called of God to restore a dispensation of
truth to the world.
AN ACCOUNT OF
JOSEPH SMITH'S LIFE
INCLUDING HIS FIRST VISION
The following was taken from a copy of that recorded in
Joseph Smith's handwriting and is quoted verbatim.
"I was born in the town of Charon in the State of Vermont
North America on the twenty third day of December AD 1805 of
goodly Parents who spared no pains to instructing me in the
Christian religion at the age of about ten years my Father
Joseph Smith Siegnior moved to Palmyra Ontario County in the
State of New York and being in indigent circumstances were
obliged to labour hard for the support of a large Family
having nine chilldren and as it required the exertions of
all that were able to render any assistance for the support
of the Family therefore we were deprived of the bennifit of
an education Suffice it to Say I was mearly instructid in
reading and writing and the ground rules of Arithmatic which
constuted my whole literary acquirements. At about the age
of twelve years my mind became Seriously imprest with regard
to the all importent concerns for the wellfare of my
immortal Soul which led me to searching the Scriptures
believeing as I was taught, that they contained the word of
God thus applying myself to them and my intimate
acquaintance with those of differant denominations led me to
marvel excedingly for I discovered that they did not of
adorn their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversation
agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred
depository this was a grief to my Soul thus from the age of
twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart
concerning the sittuation of the world of mankind the
contentions and divions the wickedness and abominations and
the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind my mind
become excedingly distressed for I become convicted of my
Sins and by Searching the Scriptures I found that mankind
did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatised
from the true and liveing faith and there was no society or
denomination that built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ as
recorded in the new testament and I felt to mouran for my
own Sins and for the Sins of the world for I learned in the
Scriptures that God was the same yesterday to day and
forever that he was no respecter to persons for he was God
for I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth
and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the
heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the
earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and
the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man
walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in
the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in
governing the things which are so exceding great and
marvilous even in the likeness of him who created them and
when I considered upon these things my heart exclained well
hath the wise man said it is a fool that saith in his heart
there is no God my heart exclained all these bear testimony
and bespeak an omnipotant and omnipreasant power a being who
makith Laws and decreeeth and bindeth all things in their
bounds who filleth Eternity who was and is and will be fron
all Eternity to Eternity and when I considered all these
things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as
worship him in spirit and in truth therefore I cried unto
the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could
go and obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the
wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the
Lord in the 16th year of my age a piller of light above the
brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and
rested upon me and I was filld with the spirit of God and
the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and
he spake unto me saying Joseph my Son thy Sins are forgiven
thee. go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my
commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed
for the world that all those who believe on my name may have
Eternal life behold the world lieth in sin at this time and
none doeth good no not onethey have turned asside from the
Gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me
with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine
anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to
visit them acording to this ungodliness and to bring to pass
that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and
Apstles behold and lo I come quickly as it written of me in
the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father and my soul was
filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with
great joy and the Lord was with me but could fine none that
would believe the hevenly vision nevertheless I pondered
these things in my heart"
(JS's D, Pages 3-7, Diaries, Pages 4, 5 and 6)
The fact that I have copied the foregoing in its original
form is not meant in any degree to belittle the Prophet,
Joseph Smith. It is only to prove that the Lord sometimes
chooses those whom the world would call the unlearned. And
because they are unlearned of the world they are humble and,
therefore, teachable with God.
The following is written of Joseph
Smith:
Keys of Enoch, Page 182, Key 201: 12 "It was explained to me
that one of the Great Shepherd's Prophets who incarnated
upon this planet from Archturus was Joseph Smith, who chose
to serve the Father by coming to gather the tribe of Joseph
in preparation for the coming of the Only Begotten."
The restoration of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times
was to restore again everything had in previous
dispensations except that which had been fulfilled through
the Savior's advent on earth. Along with this, a new
dimension of Light which had never before been given was
revealed:
Teachings, Page 137 "We are called to hold
the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been
kept HID from the foundation of the world until
now. "
And ONLY through a sincere and diligent effort can this new
dispensation be unfolded to one's complete
comprehension:
Teachings, Page 137 "the things of God are
of deep import: and time. and experience.and careful and
ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy
mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation. must
stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and
contemplate the darkest abyss. and the broad expanse of
eternity - THOU MUST COMMUNE WITH GOD. "
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