Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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they met in not finding the plates in the shop, their confidence was not in the least shaken in Miss. Chase; for they still went from place to place by her directions, determined to get if possible, the much desired object of thier search.
Not long after the circumstance above mentioned, Joseph began to make arrangements to accomplish the translation of the Record; The And the first step which he was instructed to take in regard to this matter, was, to take a Fac-Simile of the characters composing the alphabet: which characters were called reformed Egyptian, after which send them to some of the of the most learned men of this generation, and ask them for the translation thereof.
The reader will here observe, that, on a preceding page of this volume, I spoke of a confidential friend, to whom my mentioned the existence of the plates some two or three years before they came forth: this was no other than , one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. After
In order to commence the work of translation and carry it forward as speedily as circumstances would permit, Joseph came to me one afternoon, and requested that I should go to this , and inform him that he had got the plates, and, that he desired to see him concerning the matter. This, indeed, was an errand which I much disliked; as his was a very peculiar kind of woman— one that was naturally of a very jealous disposition; besides, she was rather dull of hearing. And when anything was said that she did not hear distinctly, she suspected that it was some secret which was designedly kept from her. I therefore told Joseph [p. 117]
they met in not finding the plates in the shop, their confidence was not in the least shaken in Miss. Chase; for they still went from place to place by her directions, determined to get if possible, the much desired object of thier search.
Not long after the circumstance above mentioned, Joseph began to make arrangements to accomplish the translation of the Record; And the first step which he was instructed to take in regard to this matter, was, to take a Fac-Simile of the characters composing the alphabet: which characters were called reformed Egyptian, after which send them to some of the of the most learned men of this generation, and ask them for the translation thereof.
The reader will here observe, that, on a preceding page of this volume, I spoke of a confidential friend, to whom my mentioned the existence of the plates some two or three years before they came forth: this was no other than , one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
In order to commence the work of translation and carry it forward as speedily as circumstances would permit, Joseph came to me one afternoon, and requested that I should go to this , and inform him that he had got the plates, and, that he desired to see him concerning the matter. This, indeed, was an errand which I much disliked; as his was a very peculiar woman— one that was naturally of a very jealous disposition; besides, she was rather dull of hearing. And when anything was said that she did not hear distinctly, she suspected that it was some secret which was designedly kept from her. I therefore told Joseph [p. 117]
Page 117