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Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 13 November 1843

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Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation *Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 13 November 1843 History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”
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of Christ. But if the inference is, that, by more love more light, more virtue, and more truth from the Lord, I have succeded as an man of God, then you reason truly: though the weight of the sentiment is lost, when the “influance <​is left​> to the mass,” rather than hazard your opinion upon matter Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Of course you follow out the figure, and say “The boldness of my plans and measures, together with their unparalleled success; so far, are calculated to throw a charm over my whole being; and to point me out as the most extraordinary man of the present age.” The boldness of my plans and measures, can readily be tested by the touch-stone of all schemes, systems, projects, and adventures,— truth, for truth is a matter of fact— and the fact is, that by the power of God I translated the book of Mormon hierogliphics from hierogliphics; the knowledge of which was lost to the world. In which wonderful event, I stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries. with a new revelation; which, (if they would receive <​it​>) (the fulness of the everlasting gospel) would open the eyes of more than eight hundred millions of people, and make plain the “old paths,” wherein if a man walk in all the ordinances of God blameless, he shall inherit eternal life: And Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come, has borne me safely over every snare and plan laid in secret, or openly, through priestly hypocrisy, sectarian prejudice, popular philosophy, executive power, or law defying mobocracy, to destroy me.
If, then, the hand of God, in all things that I have accomplished towards the salvation of a priest ridden generation, in the short space [p. 1[b]]
of Christ. But if the inference is, that, by more love more light, more virtue, and more truth from the Lord, I have succeded as a man of God, then you reason truly: though the weight of the sentiment is lost, when the “influance is left to the mass,” Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Of course you follow out the figure, and say “The boldness of my plans and measures, together with their unparalleled success; so far, are calculated to throw a charm over my whole being; and to point me out as the most extraordinary man of the present age.” The boldness of my plans and measures, can readily be tested by the touch-stone of all schemes, systems, projects, and adventures,— truth, for truth is a matter of fact— and the fact is, that by the power of God I translated the book of Mormon from hierogliphics; the knowledge of which was lost to the world. In which wonderful event, I stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries. with a new revelation; which, (if they would receive it) ( the everlasting gospel) would open the eyes of more than eight hundred millions of people, and make plain the “old paths,” wherein if a man walk in all the ordinances of God blameless, he shall inherit eternal life: And Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come, has borne me safely over every snare and plan laid in secret, or openly, through priestly hypocrisy, sectarian prejudice, popular philosophy, executive power, or law defying mobocracy, to destroy me.
If, then, the hand of God, in all things that I have accomplished towards the salvation of a priest ridden generation, in the short space [p. 1[b]]
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