Joseph Smith: Mormon Prophet

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that he was laying “a foundation that [would] revolutionize the whole world.” (“Chapter 44: The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 507–16.)

This has come about in a marvelous way. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon Church, is a global faith.

Here are some salient statistics:

• Membership: 12,868,606
• Missions: 344
• Missionaries: 53,000
• Missionary Training Centers: 17
• Temples: 124
• Congregations: 27,475
• Universities & Schools: 4
• Seminary Students Enrollment: 362,756
• Institute Students Enrollment: 358,516
• Family History Centers: over 4,500
• Number of Countries with Family History Centers: 70
• Countries Receiving Humanitarian Aid: 163
• Humanitarian Cash Donations Since 1985: $201 million
• Value of Humanitarian Material Assistance Since 1985: $705 million
• Welfare Service Missionaries: 3,552
• Languages Church Curriculum Available: 178
(Source: Newsroom.LDS.org)

This suggests two questions. First, is the Church of Jesus Christ a mega-church? Second, how do you manage these 13 million members?

The first question, is this a mega-church? No, not in the traditional sense of the word. Mega-churches are those large gathering places you see on TV. They usually have about 2,000 members attending each week, and are semi-independent from larger traditional denominations. They are predominantly a protestant/evangelical phenomenon.

That last point is key: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is its own Christian denomination. It is neither Catholic, Orthodox, nor Protestant.

Joseph Smith explained this idea by comparing the protestant denominations to branches on a tree:

“Here is a principle of logic ... I will illustrate it by an old apple tree. Here jumps off a branch and says, I am the true tree, and you are corrupt. If the whole tree is corrupt, are not its branches corrupt? … ”

“When men come out and build upon other men’s foundations, they do it on their own responsibility, without authority from God; and when the floods come and the winds blow, their foundations will be found to be sand, and their whole fabric will crumble to dust."

“Did I build on any other man’s foundation? I have got all the truth which the Christian world possessed, and an independent revelation in the bargain, and God will bear me off triumphant.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 375-376. Cf. “Chapter 45: Joseph Smith’s Feelings about His Prophetic Mission,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 517–27.)

It is not a branch of anything; it is its own unique tree. President Thomas S. Monson, the current world leader of the Church of Jesus Christ, illustrated this principle with some military humor:

"As a 17-year-old, I enlisted in the United States Navy and attended boot camp in San Diego, California. For the first three weeks, one felt as though the navy were trying to kill rather than train him on how to stay alive."

"I shall ever remember the first Sunday at San Diego. The chief petty officer said to us, 'Today everybody goes to church.' We then lined up in formation on the drill ground. The petty officer shouted, 'All of you who are Catholics—you meet in Camp Decatur. Forward, march! And don’t come back until three!' A large number marched out. He then said, 'All of you who are of the Jewish faith—you meet in Camp Henry. Forward, march! And don’t come back until three!' A smaller contingent moved out. Then he said, 'The rest of you Protestants meet in the theaters in Camp Farragut. Forward, march! And don’t come back until three o’clock!'

"There flashed through my mind the thought, Monson, you’re not Catholic. You’re not Jewish. You’re not a Protestant. I elected to stand fast. It seemed as though hundreds of men marched by me. Then I heard the sweetest words which the petty officer ever uttered in my presence. He said, 'And what do you men call yourselves?' He used the plural—men. This was the first time I knew that anyone else was standing behind me on that drill ground. In unison we said, 'We’re Mormons.' He scratched his head, an expression of puzzlement on his face, and said, 'Well, go and find somewhere to meet—and don’t come back until three o’clock.' We marched away. (Thomas S. Monson, “Your Eternal Home,” Ensign, May 2000, 52.)

Another indication that the Church of Jesus Christ is not a mega-church is that we do not use the so-called contemporary worship service. Here and there the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will do something modern, such as Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind,” or a piece from Lord of the Rings. But more often than not, this is your grandmother’s worship service. And I prefer it that way. I could not abide having a religious meeting marred by a carnival atmosphere. I think the signers of the Cambridge Declaration were on to something.

A press release from Newsroom.lds.org indicates that the protestant trend towards mega-churches may be leveling out.

“The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a report this week surveying the faith landscape of the United States. Based on interviews with 35,000 Americans, the report finds that religious affiliation in this country is increasingly diverse and fluid.”

“Religion scholar Stephen Prothero commented on the implications of the Pew survey in the New York Times. ‘The trend is towards more personal religion,’ he said, speaking of evangelicals in particular and religion in general.”

“Prothero points out that even in mega-churches seen in today’s American religious landscape, members are grouped into smaller ministries within the larger church body.”

“Latter-day Saints identify with that. Mormon congregations are kept small enough to maintain a close and intimate relationship between members and their congregational leaders. At the same time, they are large enough — usually a few hundred members — to pool talents and resources for the entire group’s benefit.” (Bishops See National Trend in Mormon Congregations, 28 February 2008.)

That is the genius of Joseph Smith’s system. In effect, Joseph Smith says bigger is not always better. We keep the bodies small, and therefore have more interpersonal contact. This face-to-face, one-on-one interaction is something you could not get if the congregation were in the thousands. It is all too easy to get lost in the crowd.

However, each of the local congregations is not a separate entity, but is closely linked and overseen by the higher organizations. This is where the 13 million members come in. Each member is geographically assigned to a ward, or local congregations. In turn, several wards operate under a stake, akin to a diocese. The next level is called a region, followed by an area. The last level is the general level. Through it all, there is a system and order and a place for people, akin to an army. This analogy should not be shocking to anyone who has sung “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”

So to look at the Church as a lumbering worldwide leviathan is incorrect. Yes, there is a mass of membership, but it is portioned out into manageable units.

Boyd K. Packer, the president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body in the Church) said this:

“Often we are asked how the relatively few Apostles in the First Presidency and the Twelve can manage the Church, now more than [12] million strong."

"Actually the Church is no bigger than a ward. Each bishop has counselors. He wears a special mantle and is designated as the presiding high priest in the ward. There are other high priests, and there is a presidency of elders. There are auxiliary leaders and teachers sufficient for the need. When we serve obediently, ever willingly, our pay, like the bishop’s, comes in blessings."

"No matter if the Church grows to be a hundred million (as it surely will!), it will still be no bigger than a ward. Everything needed for our redemption, save for the temple, is centered there—and temples now come ever closer to all of us.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Bishop and His Counselors,” Ensign, May 1999, 57)

To paraphrase Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil, all religion is local. And yet there is a smaller unit within the Church: the family.

In 1995 the Church issued a proclamation on the family. Two paragraphs explain that the family is really the place for spiritual development, with the Church merely being a support.

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.”

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

President Packer summed up these paragraphs this way:

“I’ve always felt that the ultimate end of all of the activities and programs of the Church rests in a man and a woman and their family being happy at home.” (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Building Up a Righteous Posterity. February 9, 2008.)

That is what I love about my church. It is small. And it focuses on the small things, such as people, families, and the local congregations. Theologically and spiritually speaking, this is where the rubber meets the road.

This Sunday is Easter. Christians everywhere will pause and reflect upon the central point of their theology: the resurrection and the redemption of Jesus Christ.

In this spirit, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) issued an Easter message. In it, they reaffirm the basics of Christ’s mission and atoning sacrifice. It is proper that they should do this. As the supreme governing body of the Church, it is their responsibility to set the tone for the season and for worship services this Sunday.

Here is their message:

“Every thoughtful person has asked himself that question best asked by Job of old: ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14). Try as we may to put the question out of our thoughts, it always returns. Death comes to all mankind. It comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its call is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life's journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.”

“Job's question was answered on that first Easter, when, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came unto the sepulcher. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen...’ (Luke 24:1, 5—6).”

“We solemnly testify that God lives. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the resurrection. Because of His glorious resurrection all mankind will live again. ‘Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!’ (Hymns, no. 136).”

The First Presidency
Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
(Source: Deseret News)

I appreciate this seasonal reminder. Although it is not as commercial as Christmas, Easter, too, can be a time of distractions. We focus on new Sunday clothes, egg-shaped junk food, pseudo-grass, plush rabbits, and so forth. Even the concern about not commercializing a sacred day can also be a distraction. I hope we do not get to the point where we define Easter as the time of year where we worry about commercialization.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. This month the Ensign, the official magazine of the Church, has been exclusively on the life and mission of Jesus Christ. This reinforces what members of the Church have been taught all along.

The fourteenth prophet of the Church, Howard W. Hunter, said:

"The doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized, nor can it be disregarded."

"Without the Resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a litany of wise sayings and seemingly unexplainable miracles—but sayings and miracles with no ultimate triumph."

"No, the ultimate triumph is in the ultimate miracle: for the first time in the history of mankind, one who was dead raised himself into living immortality. He was the Son of God, the Son of our immortal Father in Heaven, and his triumph over physical and spiritual death is the good news every Christian tongue should speak."(Howard W. Hunter, “An Apostle’s Witness of the Resurrection,” Ensign, May 1986, 15.)

And Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle in the Church, succinctly stated, “As far as man is concerned, all things center in Christ.” (Mormon Doctrine, 129).

It does not get plainer than that. I appreciate how the leaders of my church make our Christianity so obvious. You can never overemphasize the fundamentals, be it in reading, writing, or religion. Once Christ is in place, everything else then falls into its proper place.

That is why the Church has emphasized using the correct name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It reminds us of our theological center.

In fact, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a Christian church since before day one. Ten years before the Church was organized, Joseph Smith had his first experience with Christ and with forgiveness.

He wrote:

"Thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world, of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the of the minds of mankind. My mind became exceedingly distressed for I became convicted of my sins."

"I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to 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 pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me. And I was filled 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 crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.’" (1832 History. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 10-11. Standardized.)

We now call this event the First Vision. Not only was it an affirmation of God’s existence, but also an affirmation of God's power. Christ’s Atonement can change people’s lives for the better. Joseph Smith became what he was because of his relationship to Christ and his reliance upon the Atonement.

In a sense, the First Vision was also a first Easter for Joseph Smith. Like the women at the tomb and the early apostles, he saw the risen Lord.

But it also goes deeper than that. It was only after having this vision in spring 1820 that Joseph Smith understood Christ in the full and complete sense. Christ ceased being a shadowy and disinterested figure from the Bible, and finally became a living reality, and a source of personal inspiration and power.

I too have felt this power in my life. We work to discipline our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Personal effort is effective, but it is not enough. There needs to be some extra power that nudges us along in our righteous goals. This is God’s power, the Atonement. It is what makes bad men good, good men better, and better men perfect.

Behind all the things we do—having large families, abstaining from both coffee and premarital relations, genealogy and other good works—is Jesus Christ’s Atonement. It is what brings purpose and sanity to our endeavors.

One of my favorite quotes from Josephs Smith is his “in a nutshell” summary of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

"But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56)

All things are an appendage to the Atonement. This means that I must be an appendage to the Atonement. This sounds weird at first blush, but in practice it is not.

Paul, in the New Testament, explained the idea this way:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“Christ liveth in me.” I must become an instrument in the hands, the pierced hands, of Jesus Christ. Only then does my life have any meaning.

This scripture inspires me to be more and more like Jesus Christ. Hopefully, I can say like Paul that I’m not doing such and such, but it is Christ in me that is doing these good things. I think that is a worthy goal for all.

Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormon Church), championed globalism.

One of his early associates, Wilford Woodruff (who later became the fourth president of the Church), recalled a meeting held in the 1830s. In it, Joseph Smith spoke of the worldwide destiny of the Church:

“The Prophet called on all who held the Priesthood to gather into the little log school house they had there. It was a small house, perhaps 14 feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland. … When we got together the Prophet called upon the Elders of Israel with him to bear testimony of this work. … When they got through the Prophet said, ‘Brethren, I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it.’ I was rather surprised. He said, ‘It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.’”
("Chapter 11: The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 135–47.)

In another setting, Joseph Smith affirmed:

“I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.” (“Chapter 44: The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 507–16.)

Joseph Smith had a global vision. The Church began in the United States, then Joseph Smith sent missionaries to Canada, and later went himself in 1833. In 1837 he sent missionaries to Great Britain. From there, it branched out to the rest of Europe, and then the world.

However, some people see the Church and Joseph Smith as a local or national phenomenon. Scholar Harold Bloom wrote, “Mormonism is a purely American Gnosis” (The American Religion, 123). To an extent, that is true. I cannot imagine Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ arising in any other country besides America. Despite the persecutions and the Extermination Order, no other country is as religiously free as the United States.

On the other hand, if Joseph Smith was merely a permutation of Jacksonianism, then why does the Church have 27,475 congregations with 13 million members worldwide?

Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Church, explained:

“Mormonism, so-called, is a world religion, not simply because its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because it has a comprehensive and inclusive message based upon the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all mankind.” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Gospel—A Global Faith,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 18.)

I am a part of this global phenomenon. I am from California, and I served my mission in Portugal. While there, I had a companion who was Portuguese, I worked with a local church leader from Mozambique, and had a Brazilian mission president. We were a mini-United Nations.

This globalization has also affected the Church on a general level. The second counselor in the First Presidency (the supreme governing council of the Church), is from Germany. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has been a worldwide Church leader in various positions since 1994.

Not only are there Europeans in high office, but also people from other areas as well. From 1990 to 1995, Helvécio Martins, a black Brazilian, was a general authority of the Church. On the worldwide level, the Church has leaders from all nationalities.

I have met both of these men, President Uchtdorf and Elder Martins, and am grateful that the Church has so much to offer people from all nationalities and races. Yes, the Church is headquartered in the United States of America, but it is a global phenomenon.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church, claim that The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ was translated from gold plates. To substantiate this claim, they usually cite Joseph Smith’s own testimony of the gold plates, and the testimony of the Three and the Eight Witnesses.

However, there are two more witness to the physical gold plates. The first is Mary Whitmer. She was the wife of Peter Whitmer, Sr. and mother of several of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon: Christian, Jacob, David, and Peter Jr.

Here is her account, as told by her grandson John C. Whitmer:

“One evening, when (after having done her usual day's work in the house) she went to the barn to milk the cows, she met a stranger carrying something on his back that looked like a knapsack. At first she was a little afraid of him, but when he spoke to her in a kind, friendly tone and began to explain to her the nature of the work which was going on in her house, she was filled with inexpressible joy and satisfaction.”

“He then untied his knapsack and showed her a bundle of plates, which in size and appearance corresponded with the description subsequently given by the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This strange person turned the leaves of the book of plates over, leaf after leaf, and also showed her the engravings upon them; after which he told her to be patient and faithful in bearing her burden a little longer, promising that if she would do so, she should be blessed; and her reward would be sure, if she proved faithful to the end. The personage then suddenly vanished with the plates, and where he went, she could not tell. (Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 1:283)

I’m impressed with this opportunity she had. I’m sure it strengthened her faith. And she probably needed it. As the record shows, the events surrounding the translation and the publication of the Book of Mormon taxed the power and patience of the people involved.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, referring to these trying times, wrote:

"Now my wife had written some for me to translate, and also my Brother Samuel H. Smith. But we had be come reduced in property, and my wife’s father was about to turn me out of doors and I had not where to go. And I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me." (1832 History. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 14. Standardized.)

His prayer was answered. God raised up people to help him. Not just men, such as Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer men, but also women. In addition to Mary Whitmer, there was also Joseph Smith’s wife Emma. She served as a scribe between Martin Harris’s departure and the coming of Oliver Cowdery.

She was not exactly a witness of the gold plates, but she was almost a witness. Here is her story, as told to her son Joseph Smith III:

“The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him [Joseph Smith, Jr.] to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. … I did not attempt to handle the plates, other than I have told you, nor uncover them to look at them. I was satisfied that it was the work of God, and therefore did not feel it to be necessary to do so. … I moved them from place to place on the table, as it was necessary in doing my work.” (The Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, p. 290; spelling modernized.)

So the plates were there, but covered. Like the Eight Witnesses, she handled them, and moved them around as she kept house. Her testimony reflects her unique position as wife of Joseph Smith. It has a folksy charm about it. You can picture Emma sliding the heavy plates around the table as she is dusting.

And as both a wife of the prophet and a scribe of the Book of Mormon, I find her testimony compelling:

“My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, your father [Joseph Smith] would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.” (Ibid.)

I am glad that God raised up these women to help move the Lord’s work along. I have read the Book of Mormon scores of times, and appreciate their part in bringing forth the keystone of our religion, and this new witness of the divinity of Christ.

Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church, established the pattern for regular, general conferences of the whole church. The idea was not his, but it was a commandment from God. The revelation, in part, reads:

“The several elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint; And said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the time.” (D&C 20:61-62)

That is an open-ended mandate, which is good. It allows for adaptability in transacting church business, and for meeting the needs of the varied membership. Mormonism shares some of the strengths of the US Constitution. They both provide a framework that is solid enough to endure through the ages, yet flexible enough to meet different circumstances in different times and places. After all, the needs of the church in the 1830s differ from the needs of the church in the 2000s. But more on that later.

The first general conference was held in Fayette, New York on June 9, 1830. The official church history records:

"On the ninth day of June, 1830, we held our first conference as an organized Church. Our numbers were about thirty, besides whom believers or anxious to learn. Having opened by singing and prayer, we partook together of the emblems of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"We then proceeded to confirm several who had lately been baptized, after which we called out and ordained several to the various offices of the Priesthood. Much exhortation and instruction was given, and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner—many of our number prophesied, whilst others had the heavens opened to their view, and were so overcome that we had to lay them on beds or other convenient places; among the rest was Brother Newel Knight, who had to be placed on a bed, being unable to help himself."

"By his own account of the transaction, he could not understand why we should lay him on the bed, as he felt no sense of weakness. He felt his heart filled with love, with glory, and pleasure unspeakable, and could discern all that was going on in the room; when all of a sudden a vision of the future burst upon him. He saw there represented the great work which through my instrumentality was yet to be accomplished. He saw heaven opened, and beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the majesty on high, and had it made plain to his understanding that the time would come when he would be admitted into His presence to enjoy His society for ever and ever."

"When their bodily strength was restored to these brethren, they shouted hosannas to God and the Lamb, and rehearsed the glorious things which they had seen and felt, whilst they were yet in the spirit.

"Such scenes as these were calculated to inspire our hearts with joy unspeakable, and fill us with awe and reverence for that Almighty Being, by whose grace we had been called to be instrumental in bringing about, for the children of men, the enjoyment of such glorious blessings as were now at this time poured out upon us."

"To find ourselves engaged in the very same order of things as observed by the holy Apostles of old; to realize the importance and solemnity of such proceedings; and to witness and feel with our own natural senses, the like glorious manifestations of the powers of the priesthood, the gifts and blessings of the Holy Ghost, and the goodness and condescension of a merciful God unto such as obey the everlasting Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, combined to create within us sensations of rapturous gratitude, and inspire us with fresh zeal and energy in the cause of truth." (History of the Church 1:85. Cf. “Chapter 11: The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 135–47.)

These same conferences continue today, with some small shifts in practice. Now the conferences are semiannual, instead of quarterly. The location has changed—from Fayette to Salt Lake City. And the buildings have changed—from log cabins and open-air boweries to the famous Salt Lake Tabernacle and now to the current Conference Center. The membership has grown—from thirty in 1830 to thirteen million in 2008. And the number of languages has multiplied by the scores. But the spirit and the intent of these conferences has been the same. They are times of revival, celebration, communion, edification, and to transact necessary church business.

Of course, managing the explosive growth has been a challenge. In 1981, Gordon B. Hinckley, a leader in the Mormon Church, commented:

"With the growth of the Church, we likely could never build a hall large enough to accommodate all who would wish to assemble in one place. Nor would accelerating travel costs make possible their coming. The gifts of science have provided a more convenient way. We are confident that as the work of the Lord expands, he will inspire men to develop the means whereby the membership of the Church, wherever they may be, can be counseled in an intimate and personal way by his chosen prophet. Communication is the sinew that binds the Church as one great family. Between those facilities which are now available and those which are on the horizon, we shall be able to converse one with another according to the needs and circumstances of the time." (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Faith: The Essence of True Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1981, 5)

As a result of this cramping, the Mormon Church built a new Conference Center in 2000. It is a large facility, to say the least. It takes up a full city block, and a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet could fit within the auditorium. The heart of the building, however, is the translation center. It has sixty booths to get the message out in people’s mother tongues. Not just the obvious tongues as Portuguese, Spanish, and German, but also obscure ones like Tagalog, Serbo-Croatian, and Icelandic.

Here are some of the building's statistics:

• Area covered by complex: 10 acres—one city block.

• Building size: 1.5 million sq. ft. (five times the area of the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle combined).

• Framing: reinforced concrete, steel roof frame (roof trusses weigh more than 1,170 tons).

• Concrete required: about 116,000 cubic yards.

• Electrical wiring: 50,000 miles, with 780 miles of conduit.

• Air-conditioning: 1,035,000 cubic feet of air moved through more than 14 miles of ducts every minute; 2,966 tons of air-conditioning equipment.

• Level-to-level transport: 11 passenger elevators, 3 service and stage elevators, 12 escalators, in addition to numerous stairways.

• Exterior covering: granite panels on south and west faces, Ashlar stone (random-length granite laid in brick pattern) on north and east faces. Granite for the building came from the same area where stone for the Salt Lake Temple was quarried.

• Landscaping: four acres on roof, with complete irrigation; trees and plants on terraced north and east sides of the building; additional planters in plaza areas.

• Water features: two fountains on the roof, one cascading down the front into pools below; 5,930 gallons of water per minute pumped through fountains and water courses; waters of City Creek flowing through rocky channel on southern edge of the block. (Don L. Searle, “The Conference Center: ‘This New and Wonderful Hall’,” Ensign, Oct 2000, 32.)

Additionally, the Mormon Church uses radio, television, satellite, and the Internet to broadcast sessions of general conference. This makes sense: the world-wide web is the best way to reach a world-wide audience. Joseph Smith would be impressed.

Next month, April 2008, in this large Conference Center, the successor to Joseph Smith will be presented to the church body for a sustaining vote. This is some of the "necessary church business" that needs to be handled. I look forward to seeing Thomas S. Monson sustained as the sixteenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and am eager to see what direction he will take the church. I'm glad that this pattern of general, worldwide conferences continues. I feel renewed and edified at these conferences. It is comforting to know that a prophet is out there to guide us.

In studying the history of Joseph Smith and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to as the Mormons, we emphasize Joseph Smith’s own testimony of the Book of Mormon, that book of additional scripture that is another testament of Jesus Christ. We also talk about the testimony of the Three Witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated.

Additionally, there were eight other men who were privileged to see the gold plates. But unlike the Three Witnesses, these Eight Witnesses had a somewhat less dramatic experience. B. H. Roberts explained:

“The difference between the testimony given the Three Witnesses and that given to the Eight, is that the former was attended by a splendid display of the glory and power of God and the ministration of an angel, while the latter was attended by no such display but was a plain matter-of-fact exhibition of the plates by the Prophet to his friends, and they not only saw the plates, but handled them and examined the engravings upon them.” (History of the Church 1:58n)

WHY THE WITNESSES?

Even without the angel and a voice from heaven, seeing the gold plates would be something wonderful. Of course we are not so much concerned with the material upon which a message was written, but the message itself. That is why Mormons are so enthusiastic about the Book of Mormon—it is a crucial second witness of Christ and His gospel.

And that it why it is important to have Joseph Smith’s account, and the accounts of the Three and Eight Witnesses. They testify to the reality and physicality of the gold plates. The Book of Mormon had to come from somewhere, and their deposition answers that question. We need this foundational question settled before we can go to the next set of questions, such as "What is the message of the Book of Mormon?" "Why is it important to have a second witness of Christ?" "How can the Book of Mormon help me with my practical, day-to-day problems?"

But first thing first.

THEIR TESTIMONY

This is the testimony of the last group, the Eight Witnesses:

THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

CHRISTIAN WHITMER
HIRAM PAGE
JACOB WHITMER
JOSEPH SMITH, SEN.
PETER WHITMER, JUN.
HYRUM SMITH
JOHN WHITMER
SAMUEL H. SMITH

TWO WORDS

In this testimony, two things impress me. Actually, it is two words: “curious” and “heft.”

Curious. Nowadays, we associate curious with a certain mischievous chimpanzee, or with Alice tumbling into Wonderland. However, in the archaic sense curious means "accomplished with skill or ingenuity." What they meant to say was that the engravings on the plate were minutely detailed and skillfully carved.

If you look at artifacts similar to the Book of Mormon, such as the two Roman plates currently on display at the Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library, you see that they are rather exquisite. (Click here for images of the Roman Plates)

This exquisiteness, or curiousness, is an impressive detail. These witnesses used words which imply that they looked over the plates with microscopic precision. I get the impression that they were actually describing something that saw, but did not quite understand, given their academic background.

Heft. Then there is the word “heft.” This odd word is related to the words “hefty," heavy," and “heave.” Instead of a visual detail, this is a tactile detail. It emphasizes the plate’s weight. As all eight testify, the plates were rather heavy, so they had to heave them to each other after holding and examining them.

Joseph Smith said that the plates were gold, and that they were six inches by six inches by eight inches. Given the density of gold (and assuming that they were a solid block for guesstimation purposes), they should be about 200 pounds. The consensus of witnesses was that they weighed about 60 pounds. Since we do not know how alloyed the gold was, and they did not actually weigh them with scientific instruments, this is all we can go on.

SCIENCE, FACTS, FAITH

But the salient point is that the testimony of the Eight Witnesses has both internal and external consistency. They agree that the plates were finely engraved, and then make special note of their weight. This corresponds to both archaeological evidence and the physical properties of gold.

Of course this does not prove that Mormonism is true. It does, however, weed-out frivolous objections, and makes what they said scientifically and historically possible and plausible.

I say plausible because if you eliminate two miracles—the angel and the miraculous translation process—Joseph Smith’s story is no different than the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Someone digs up an unexpected archaeological find, and then ... !

(By the way, we have a better account of the origins of the Book of Mormon that we do of the Rosetta Stone.)

But this is something that we all need to find out for ourselves. There is nothing I could say to persuade anyone that the Book of Mormon is true any more than I can drop a box full of artifacts and say “Artifact A plus artifact B plus artifact C. Thus, Q.E.D, the Book of Mormon is true.”

All I can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. This eliminates any mortal (and therefore fallible) middleman.

THE LIVES OF THE EIGHT WITNESSES

Like the lives of the Three Witnesses, the lives of the Eight Witnesses are rather tortuous. Some remained true to Mormonism, some fell away, but none ever denied their testimony.

Here is the breakdown:

Christian Whitmer. Remained faithful, died 1835.
Hiram Page. Excommunicated in 1838, died in 1852.
Jacob Whitmer. Excommunicated in 1838, died in 1856.
Joseph Smith, Sr. Remained faithful, was the first Church Patriarch, and died in 1840.
Peter Whitmer, Jr. Remained faithful, and died of tuberculosis in 1836.
Hyrum Smith. Remained faithful, was the Associate President of the Church and second Church Patriarch. Martyred with Joseph Smith in 1844.
John Whitmer. He left the church in 1838, and stayed in Missouri until his death.
Samuel H. Smith. Became the first missionary of the Mormon Church, remained faithful, and died in 1844.

As with the Three Witnesses, the fact that several left Mormonism is not so much a comment on Mormonism as it is a comment on humanity and people’s power of choice. The key point is that though they were disaffected and estranged, they never retracted their testimony.

CONCLUSION

Joseph Smith did not stand alone in regards to the Book of Mormon. He gave consistent testimony about the angel, the plates, and the translation. Additionally, he allowed two separate groups of several men to see the plates. They, in turn, confirmed his claims. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left Mormonism.

Joseph Smith, the Three Witnesses, and the Eight Witnesses are a twelve-man jury in affirming the reality of the gold plates and the Book of Mormon. And I find that rather impressive.

Joseph Smith, the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to as the Mormons was consistent with his account of the history of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ:

“Moroni, who deposited the plates in a hill in Manchester, Ontario county, New York, being dead and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and told me where they were, and gave me directions how to obtain them. I obtained them, and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of which I translated the plates; and thus came the Book of Mormon.” (“Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 57–68.)

He always asserted that there was an angel, there were physical gold plates, and that he translated the Book of Mormon from these plates. I am impressed with how consistent he was.

I am also impressed how those who knew Joseph Smith were equally consistent with the facts. Even though many of them left the Mormon Church, they still corroborated Joseph Smith’s statements. They all affirmed that there was an angel, there were gold plates, and that it was translated by the gift and power of God.

THE THREE WITNESSES

There were two formal groups whose witness buttressed Joseph Smith’s account of the gold plates. The first group is known as the Three Witnesses. They were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris.

Here is their formal statement, which is present in every copy of the Book of Mormon:

THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment–seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

OLIVER COWDERY
DAVID WHITMER
MARTIN HARRIS

Of course like most formal depositions this has all the facts but none of the emotion surrounding the event. The actual process of seeing the angel and the plates was far more dramatic and exciting.

THE ANGEL AND THE PLATES

From the official church history, here is what happened:

Not many days after the above commandment was given, we four, viz., Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and myself, agreed to retire into the woods, and try to obtain, by fervent and humble prayer, the fulfillment of the promises given in the above revelation—that they should have a view of the plates. We accordingly made choice of a piece of woods convenient to Mr. Whitmer's house [in Fayette, NY], to which we retired, and having knelt down, we began to pray in much faith to Almighty God to bestow upon us a realization of these promises.

According to previous arrangement, I commenced prayer to our Heavenly Father, and was followed by each of the others in succession. We did not at the first trial, however, obtain any answer or manifestation of divine favor in our behalf. We again observed the same order of prayer, each calling on and praying fervently to God in rotation, but with the same result as before.

Upon this, our second failure, Martin Harris proposed that he should withdraw himself from us, believing, as he expressed himself, that his presence was the cause of our not obtaining what we wished for. He accordingly withdrew from us, and we knelt down again, and had not been many minutes engaged in prayer, when presently we beheld a light above us in the air, of exceeding brightness; and behold, an angel stood before us. In his hands he held the plates which we had been praying for these to have a view of. He turned over the leaves one by one, so that we could see them, and discern the engravings thereon distinctly. He then addressed himself to David Whitmer, and said, "David, blessed is the Lord, and he that keeps His commandments;" when, immediately afterwards, we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying,

"These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear."

I now left David and Oliver, and went in pursuit of Martin Harris, whom I found at a considerable distance, fervently engaged in prayer. He soon told me, however, that he had not yet prevailed with the Lord, and earnestly requested me to join him in prayer, that he also might realize the same blessings which we had just received. We accordingly joined in prayer, and ultimately obtained our desires, for before we had yet finished, the same vision was opened to our view, at least it was again opened to me, and I once more beheld and heard the same things; whilst at the same moment, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an ecstasy of joy, " 'Tis enough; 'tis enough; mine eyes have beheld; mine eyes have beheld;" and jumping up, he shouted, "Hosanna," blessing God, and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly. (History of the Church 1:54-55.)

CORROBORATING TESTIMONY

Joseph Smith was relieved to have these additional supports. When the foursome came back from seeing the plates and the angel, Joseph Smith exclaimed the following to his parents:

“Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am; the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.” (History of the Church 1:55n.)

These Three Witnesses reinforce Joseph Smith’s claims. After all, to a practical person living in the age of telegraphy and steam engines, talking about an angle with gold plates is just as implausible as it would be to a person living in the age of the Internet and space shuttles. With science and technology, we should know better.

But there it is, this testimony of the Three Witnesses. On his own, Joseph Smith could fabricate as much nonsense as his heart could imagine, so to speak. But because he involved other people, we should take pause. If he was a fraud, what was in it for them to keep the charade going? Was it really in their own self-interest to have their good names attached to something they knew to be underhanded? Of course not.

THE PLOT THICKENS

However, the story of the Three Witnesses takes an interesting twist. All three of the men in the late 1830s, within ten years of seeing the plates and the angel, left Mormonism. Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery eventually reunited with the Church, but David Whitmer never did. Yet none of them, whether in or out of Mormonism, ever denied seeing the plates and the angel.

Their persistence and steadfastness impresses me the most. They had every motive, means, and opportunity to expose Joseph Smith as a fraud. In fact, as disgruntled ex-Mormons, it was in their self-interest to do so. But none of them ever did. They stood by their testimony to their dying day.

THE THREE WITNESSES, YEARS LATER

Here are statements from the Three Witnesses, each speaking individually at the end of their lives:

Oliver Cowdery:

“I wrote with my own pen the entire book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet as he translated it by the gift and power of God by means of the Urim and Thummim or as it is called by the book holy Interpreters. I beheld with my eye and handled with my hands the gold plates from which it was translated. I also beheld the Interpreters. That book is true. … It contains the everlasting gospel and came in fulfillment of the revelations of John where he says [that] he saw an angel come with the everlasting gospel to preach to every nation, tongue and people.” (Journal of Reuben Miller, 1848, or Millennial Star, Aug. 20, 1859, 544.)

David Whitmer:

Unto all nations, kindred, tongues and people unto whom these presents shall come:

It having been represented by one John Murphy of Polo (Caldwell County), Missouri, that I had in a conversation with him last summer, denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon….

To the end, therefore, that he may understand me now if he did not then, and that the world may know the truth, I wish now, standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this public statement:

That I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that book, as one of the three witnesses.

Those who know me best, will know that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do now again affirm the truth of all my statements as then made and published.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; it was no delusion. What is written is written and he that readeth let him understand. And if any man doubt, should he not carefully and honestly read and understand the same before presuming to sit in judgment, and condemning the light which shineth in darkness, and showeth the way of eternal life, as pointed out by the hand of God?

In the Spirit of Christ who hath said follow thou me, for I am the life, the light and the way, I submit this statement to the world, God in whom I trust being my Judge, as to the sincerity of my motives and the faith and hope that is in me of eternal life.

My sincere desire is that the world may be benefited by the plain and simple statement of the truth.

And all the honor be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. (Cited in Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, 116-117.)

Martin Harris:

"Do I believe it! Do you see the sun shining! Just as surely as the sun is shining on us and gives us light, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just as surely as the breath of life sustains us, so surely do I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, chosen of God to open the last dispensation of the fulness of times; so surely do I know that the Book of Mormon was divinely translated. I saw the plates; I saw the Angel; I heard the voice of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I might as well doubt my own existence as to doubt the divine authenticity of the book of Mormon or the divine calling of Joseph Smith." (Quoted in William Harrison Homer, "The Passing of Martin Harris," Improvement Era, Mar. 1926, 470.)

CONCLUSION

As a unified body in early adulthood, as disaffected middle-agers, and as returning prodigals in the sunset of their lives, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris remained true to their written statement.

For me this speaks volumes, not only about the reality of the physical gold plates, and their personal integrity by not denying what they saw, but also the power of the experiences. It was as if the experience of seeing the angel and the gold plates was something more than real. Denying what they actually knew would be like loosing an arm or an eye. We have this self-preservation instinct for our bodies, and it seems like they had a similar instinct for their souls.

Of course the best way to get to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon is by reading it yourself. That way you are not dependent upon anyone else’s word. It is just you and God.

And I like that student-teacher ratio.

This Sunday my church (the Mormon Church) studied the history of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The lesson material covered Joseph Smith’s own words describing the events with the angel, the gold plates, and, most importantly, the content of the book.

As I read the material, I was impressed with Joseph Smith’s meticulous details.

Here are his words:

“I was [told by the Angel Moroni] where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient Prophets that had existed on this continent. … These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of engraving. …”

“I wish to mention here that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general [that is, from right to left]; and that said title page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation.” (“Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 57–68.)

Note the specifics:

• These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold.
• Each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin.
• They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole.
• The volume was something near six inches in thickness.
• The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved.
• The language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general.
• It was not written by any man in this generation.

These details grabbed my attention. They are specific. They are meticulous. And they are exact. He gave us objective and measurable data about the plates. His specifics are a clue to his credibility.

By way of comparison, we can all describe in great detail things we are familiar with. For example, think of a favorite movie, your first car, or your wedding.

The first computer I ever wrote on was an Atari 800. It was a bland office beige, had four joystick ports on the front, two cartridge slots—you used the left-had one, and 48K of memory cards that overheated a lot. And one of the oddest details I can provide is that when I rubbed my hand over the ribbed covering for the memory bank, I could make a squeaky noise. I learned this one day when a program took a long time to boot up and I got bored.

Joseph Smith’s details are as specific as the details I provided for that antique computer. For me, he was clearly describing something that he had handled and seen because he could describe it with minute precision.

Since he gives us specific details, we can compare his gold plates to other plates. One of the most obvious artifacts we can compare it to is the Dead Sea Copper Scroll.

A paper from the Maxwell Institute explains:

"The Copper Scroll apparently was formed from a single plaque of copper-based metal. Inscribed thereon is a list of sixty-four deposits of gold, silver, aromatic spices, and manuscripts. Because of the enormous amount of treasure involved—perhaps as much as several dozen tons buried in locations in and around Jerusalem—many people are convinced that the treasures described in the document are fictional. Others, however, have argued that the list records the deposit of the treasures of the Jerusalem temple, per haps tithes collected during the First Jewish Revolt (AD 66–74) that could not be taken to Jerusalem during the siege."

Another find is the Roman bronze plates that have been on display at the BYU Harold B. Lee Library for several months now.

The webpage says:

“Written documentation was just as important in ancient civilizations as written contracts and deeds are today.”

“The Romans, Greeks, Israelites, Egyptians, and other peoples took great care to document legal or civic events and to preserve important records.”

“This exhibition features an extraordinary set of Roman military plates from AD 109. Bronze plates such as these, known as military diplomas, were used for granting Roman citizenship and military honors to soldiers retiring after twenty-five years of service.”

Of course writing on metal is an obvious way of preserving something important. The ancient Romans had the Law of the Twelve Tables, which, according to Livy, were written on bronze. The Pyrgi Tablets from Italy had Phoenician and Etruscan texts written on gold plates. And in our day, military dog tags are stamped on metal. But they all fill the same purpose: if you want something to last, write it on metal.

Even so, this does not prove that Joseph Smith actually had plates, or that Mormonism is true. But it does lend credibility to Joseph Smith’s story. We can use these specific details to verify and substantiate what he said.

Mormon Scholar William J. Hamblin did a survey of ancient writings on metal plates. He concluded his paper this way:

“Based on these examples of Hebrew, Phoenician, Greek, and Italic practices, we can conclude that writing and preserving sacred bronze and gold plates was a widespread phenomenon in the eastern Mediterranean world at the time of Lehi [an ancient Book of Mormon prophet] … ”

“The examples provided in this essay demonstrate that sacred writing on metal plates was a widespread phenomenon in the Semitic Near East and the eastern Mediterranean world in the centuries just before and after Lehi. This conclusion has also been drawn by Walter Burkert. In his 1992 study of the cultural dependency of Greek civilization on the Near East, Burkert presented a short analysis of the spread of the alphabet and writing styles and materials from the Near East to Greece. In his discussion he states that "the reference to 'bronze deltoi [plates or tablets]' as a term [among the Greeks] for ancient sacral laws should point back to seventh or sixth century [BC]" as the period in which the term deltos and the practice of writing on bronze plates was transmitted from the Near East to Greece.”

“For students of the Book of Mormon, it is not at all surprising that in the seventh or sixth century BC, the practice of writing on bronze plates was adopted by the Greeks from the Phoenicians, along with the term bronze plates (deltos, from Phoenician/Hebrew dlt) to describe ‘ancient sacred laws.’ This is, of course, precisely the time and place in which the Book of Mormon claims that a set of bronze plates containing the "ancient sacred laws" of the Hebrews existed.” (William J. Hamblin, “Sacred Writing on Metal Plates in the Ancient Mediterranean.” Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2007. P. 37–54)

And this data would be enough to keep Indiana Jones satisfied. But the Book of Mormon is something more than a startling archaeological find. It is a witness of Jesus Christ.

Thomas S. Monson, the sixteenth president of the Mormon Church, said:

“The Book of Mormon is a new witness of Jesus Christ. Its message spans the entire earth and brings its readers to a knowledge of truth. It answers that piercing and universal question best phrased by Job of old: ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14).”

“Many years ago I was called to the bedside of Robert Williams, a young man who lay dying. His wife and their two children stood nearby. We were all trying to be brave, but tears were in our eyes. Robert asked me, ‘Where does my spirit go when I die?’ I offered a silent prayer. I noticed on his bedside table a copy of the triple combination. I reached for the book and fanned the pages.”

“Suddenly I discovered that I had, with no effort on my part, stopped at the 40th chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon. I read these words to Robert: “Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.”

“’And … the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow’ (Alma 40:11–12).”

“As I continued to read about the Resurrection, a glow came to Robert’s face, a smile graced his lips, and his tired and ill body slept. I said good-bye to his wife and children. I next saw them at Robert Williams’s funeral. In those precious corridors of memory, I think back to that night when a young man pleaded for truth and, from the Book of Mormon, heard the answer to his question.”

“I read the words, but God turned the pages. Yes, our Heavenly Father does answer prayers, in His own time and in His own way. I bear an apostolic witness that Jesus is the Savior of the world and that He and His Father appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith to usher in this dispensation of the fulness of times, and so declare in His holy name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (“Special Witnesses of Christ,” Ensign, Apr 2001, 4)

Joseph Smith once told David Osborn “The Book of Mormon is true, just what it purports to be.” From what Joseph Smith said, and from my own study and prayer, I believe him.

One of the most stunning visuals in the film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the scene of the ents attacking the stronghold of Isengard. Seeing this army of living oak, rowan, and beech trees chucking rocks at the tower and smashing the orcs was a hoot.

Of course this scene reminds us of Macbeth where the soldiers camouflage themselves and attack Dunsinane Castle. As they approach the stronghold, it looks as if Birnam Forest itself is alive and menacing. In his fantasy Tolkien seems to say, “Instead of humans disguising themselves as trees and attacking the castle, why not have real trees instead?”

There is a not-so-subtle environmental message here. Tolkien was clear on this matter:

"I am a hobbit myself, except for my size, of course. I love gardens, trees and farmland without machines on it. I like to smoke a pipe and eat home-style cooking; I go to bed late and get up late. I don’t travel much." (Letters, 288.)

EARTH AND MAN

This raises a question, “What should our relationship be with the earth?” On one hand, the Industrial Age has brought unprecedented prosperity, and has raised the standard of living beyond what our great-grandparents could have possibly imagined. Think of the increase of longevity, the decrease in infant mortality, and such commonplace things as the microwave oven, cell phones, or the large things, such as MRIs, pharmaceuticals, and space shuttles.

After all, who of us has not benefited from a handy GPS or an ATM? And if you are reading this right now, you are giving tacit consent to the Internet, microchips, and computer algorithms.

On the other hand, we have serious environmental questions. For example, radiation therapy produces radioactive waste. This waste demands care in handling, storage and disposal. If you rush to the hospital in a Life Flight helicopter, then you should also know that choppers are notorious gas-guzzlers. There has been a lot of talk about carbon footprints. And before any building project is done, there must be an environmental impact study.

So industry has wrought untold benefits, but at a cost. Do we pollute the planet, and thereby undermine our own prosperity? But reverting back to nomadic hunter-gatherers also has a cost—a human cost. What happens to the standard of living and such things as dentistry, infant mortality, and the higher things of civilization, such as culture and scientific progress?

There is a reason why cavemen had such a short life expectancy, and never built things like the Mars Rover or the Hoover Dam. For example, they knew that mold was bad, and you could eat it in certain cheeses but other times it was unhealthy. However, they never realized that mold could become penicillin. And given a choice between brie or antibiotics, I’d choose the second.

So there are benefits and costs to both sides of the question. We should rephrase the question to be “How do we manage both industry and ecology?”

I appreciate Joseph Smith’s insights to this dilemma. As the first prophet of the Mormon Church, he had specific teachings relating to industry and ecology.

ATONEMENT

To begin, Joseph Smith was a religious leader and a witness of Christ. Everything he did or said resolves itself back to Christ. In summing up Mormonism, he said:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56)

There is no mystery about Mormonism, just the majesty of Christ's Atonement. The point of the Atonement is to save people in this life and in the next life. It undergirds all environmental questions.

ENVIRONMENT

Joseph Smith received a revelation from God that described creation as a gift to humanity:

“Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;”

“Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;”

“Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;”

“Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.”

“And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.”

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

“Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.” (D&C 59:16-22)

This is a rather detailed statement about the interrelationship between humanity and ecology. The Lord says that nature is a gift and that “all things which come of the earth … are made for the benefit and the use of man.” To paraphrase the Savior, the environment was made for man; man was not made for the environment.

Thus there is hierarchy in the biosphere. We use the environment and natural resources to further the mission of the church. We preserve temporal life in order to preserve spiritual life. We also use the creature comforts and labor-saving devices to spread the message of Christ. Try hand-copying a Bible, and you see my point. The time saved by printing a Bible can be used in other areas.

The revelation, however, has this proviso: the blessings of nature must be “be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.” The Lord reminds us that we do not have a free-for-all. We do not approach environmental management like a pie-eating contest. This is the “not by excess” clause.

The word “extortion” here means “plunder” or "greediness" (cf. Matthew 23:25). Hugh W. Nibley observed that “the literal meaning of the word ‘is to squeeze the last drop out of a thing.’” (Approaching Zion, 193). We are not to wring nature dry. This reminds us of the commandment about not harvesting the corners of a field to allow the poor, like Ruth, to glean the field (Leviticus 19:9).

Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of the Mormon Church said this:

“As I walk about my little cluster of trees, my feet on the fruitful earth, there wanders through my mind the words of the seventh chapter of Revelation (verses 2­3) interpreted by Joseph Smith in section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants: "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried . . . saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Even without reference to the theological meanings of this declaration, I like the injunction: ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees.’

“I look up to the stars and sense in some small degree the majesty and wonder and magnitude of the universe, the awesome greatness of its Creator and Governor, and the implications of my own place as a child of God." (A Wonderful Summer)

To sum up, we should not feel guilty about industrialization, so long as it is done with common-sense, wisdom, and care for the environment.

INDUSTRIALIZATION

Born in 1805, and living in the 1830s and 1840s, Joseph Smith in general approved of the Industrial Age.

In a letter to his wife Emma, Joseph Smith talked about his first trip to New York City. Joseph Smith was overawed by what he saw:

“This day I have been walking through the most splendid part of the City of New York. The buildings are truly great and wonderful to the astonishing of every beholder.”

“And the language of my heart is like this: Can the great God of all the Earth maker of all things magnificent and splendid be displeased with man for all these great inventions sought out by them? My answer is no, it can not be, seeing these works are calculated to make men comfortable wise and happy.” (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 277ff. Standardized)

Again, Joseph Smith reaffirms that progress is good because it benefits humanity. In fact, Joseph Smith used many of the spin-offs of industrialization to accomplish his work, the foremost being the printing press.

Imagine what would happen if we did not have the printing press. The scriptures would be a rare commodity. Consequently, we would not know the mind of God. Obedience and righteousness would be haphazard. This would hinder God's work.

In the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ like the Bible, there was a group of people who did not have written scriptures. Over time, they lost their spiritual inheritance:

“They had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator.” (Omni 1:17)

So one of the blessing of the Industrial Age was that it facilitated the information explosion. An essential part of that was the publication of the scriptures. As Isaiah prophesied:

“For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

Later on, other aspects of technology and progress were used to further the Lord’s work: plains, trains, automobiles, telegraphs, telephones, telefax, and Internet. We are all better believers and more righteous because of the Industrial Age.

CONCLUSION

Gordon B. Hinckley once observed:

“There is no music like the music of industry.” (“Nauvoo Symposium Held at Brigham Young University,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 109–11)

Joseph Smith taught that we need to have both industry and ecology, each of which are assets to the Atonement of Christ. So Joseph Smith would disagree with Tolkien’s position. The key is wise stewardship, since both sides have valid points.

Then again, Tolkien was more of a folksy old man in the sunset of life than a Luddite. Think of all the technology used to publish his books and to make the films.

As some people see things, we are living in the Information Age. That is, the dominating and distinguishing attribute of our era is information. Earlier eras were known as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. The distinguishing characteristic was the materials the used. But our age is different. It is not so much the materials or tools we use, but how we use them. It is the guiding information that sets us apart from previous ages.

Even though information is a blessing—after all, the Internet is also known as the Information Superhighway for a reason—there are some drawbacks associated with the process. I see three critical aspects of information: accessibility, accuracy, and utility. These are some of the basic questions of informatics.

ACCESSIBILITY

One of foremost problems with information was noted by Thomas Sowell. Although he was speaking as an economist, his point applies generally:

“Knowledge is one of the most scarce of all resources.” (Basic Economics, 14)

The book of Job asks, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12) Of course we can partially answer Job by saying that wisdom can be found in public libraries, the Internet (with a grain of salt), and at learning establishments, among other places.

That is why this era of human history is so prosperous—we have all of this readily accessible information. Instead of being locked-up in royal archives, or sequestered in remote monasteries, our information is superabundant.

Even so, books go out of print, are lost and damaged, and Internet links sometimes go dead. The question “where is wisdom?” in part still remains.

ACCURACY

Nowadays it has become proverbial to respond to ridiculous ideas by saying, “Oh? I bet you read that on the Internet!” This sarcasm underscores the point that it is one thing to know a fact, and the another matter entirely to know if said fact is true. The questions we ask are: Is our information accurate? Is it reliable? And how can we verify the information?

The problem is further compounded because even good people make mistakes. The Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ comparable to the Bible, has a passage that strikes me as relevant. In it, an ancient prophet describes the word’s infosphere in the last days:

“They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.” (2 Nephi 28:14)

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Mormon Church, the same point is affirmed:

“And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts … ”(D&C 33:4)

And another revelation speaks of people who are:

“ … honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.”(D&C 76:75)

So good people can make mistakes, and there are sometimes shady people who are less than honorable. And these character flaws and the occasional bald-faced mischief can hamper the information we receive. Information thereby becomes disinformation, or even worse: noninformation.

UTILITY

The last aspect of information is utility. Joseph Smith once spoke of “correct (though useless) knowledge” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 287). After accessing the information, and verifying it, the question remains as to how to put it to good use.

With some backwoods imagery, Joseph Smith observed:

“A man never has half so