Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page [11], bk. 8
image
But with Joseph it was not so for he hear knew that a dispensation of the Gospel was committed to him of which the starting bud had Scarsely yet made it appearance The next morning after breakfast was over we repaired to the setting room and after attending the morning service Joseph approached with a solemnity which I thrills th[r]ough my veins to this day whenever I it comes to my recollection. said he you have got to humble yourself before your God this day and obtain if possible a forgiveness of your sins for <​and​> if you will do this it is his will that you and and should look upon the plates, soon after this these three <​four​> left the house and went into a grove a short distance from the house— here they continued in earnest supplication to God untill he permitted an angel from his presence to bear to them a message declaring the truth and verity of the pretensions which Joseph made with regard to the plates which were at the same time shown to them by the angel. They returned to the house wi it was betweeen 3 & 4 o’clock & and were sitting in a bedroom I sat on the bedside when Joseph came in he threw himself <​down​> beside me !— !— said he you do not know how happy I am The Lord has caused the plates to be shown to 3 more besides me who have also seen an angel and will have to testify to the thuth [truth] of what I have said for they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people and I do feel as though I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was almost too much for me to endure, but they will now have to bear a part and it does rejoice my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world. then came in he seemed almost overcome with excess of Joy He then testified to what he had seen and heard as did also the others and a their testimony was the same <​in substance as that​> contained in the book of Mormon which was as follows [p. [11], bk. 8]
But with Joseph it was not so for he knew that a dispensation of the Gospel was committed to him of which the starting bud had Scarsely yet made it appearance The next morning after breakfast was over we repaired to the setting room and after attending the morning service Joseph approached with a solemnity which thrills through my veins to this day whenever it comes to my recollection. said he you have got to humble yourself before your God this day and obtain if possible a forgiveness of your sins and if you will do this it is his will that you and and should look upon the plates, soon after this these four left and went into a grove a short distance from the house— here they continued in earnest supplication to God untill he permitted an angel from his presence to bear to them a message declaring the truth of the pretensions which Joseph made with regard to the plates which were at the same time shown to them by the angel. They returned to the house it was betweeen 3 & 4 o’clock & and were sitting in a bedroom I sat on the bedside when Joseph came in he threw himself down beside me !— !— said he you do not know how happy I am The Lord has caused the plates to be shown to 3 more besides me who have also seen an angel and will have to testify to the thuth [truth] of what I have said for they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people and I do feel as though I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was almost too much for me to endure, but they will now have to bear a part and it does rejoice my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world. then came in he seemed almost overcome with excess of Joy He then testified to what he had seen and heard as did also the others and their testimony was the same in substance as that contained in the book of Mormon [p. [11], bk. 8]
Page [11], bk. 8