from the Mormon Curtain
Immediately
after publishing the Book of Mormon in 1830, Joseph claimed to receive a
revelation that Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery were to go to Toronto,
Canada to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon. They failed to do
so, (partly because the revelation sent them to the wrong town) and upon
their return, accused Joseph Smith of falsely prophesying.
“Joseph looked into the hat in which he placed the stone, and received a
revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and
that they would sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon. Hiram Page and
Oliver Cowdery went to Toronto on this mission, but they failed
entirely to sell the copyright, returning without any money.
"Joseph was at my father's house when they returned. I was there also,
and am an eye witness to these facts. Jacob Whitmer and John Whitmer
were also present when Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery returned from
Canada. Well, we were all in great trouble; and we asked Joseph how it
was that he had received a revelation from the Lord for some brethren to
go to Toronto and sell the copyright, and the brethren had utterly
failed in their undertaking. Joseph did not know how it was, so he
inquired of the Lord about it, and behold the following revelation came
through the stone: "Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of
men: and some revelations are of the devil." So we see that the
revelation to go to Toronto and sell the copyright was not of God, but
was of the devil or of the heart of man.”
- David Witmer, AN ADDRESS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, 1887, http://www.irr.org/mit/address4.html
Oliver Cowdery related his own account of Joseph Smith's "revelation" to sell the Book of Mormon copyright:
"that some among you will remember which sent Bro. Page and me, so
unwisely, to Toronto, with a prediction from the Lord by "Urim and
Thummim," that we would there find a man anxious to buy the "First
Elder's copyright." I well remember we did not find him, and had to
return surprised and disappointed. But so great was my faith, that in
going to Toronto, nothing but calmness pervaded my soul, every doubt was
banished, and I as much expected that Bro. Page and I would fulfill the
revelation as that we should live. And you may believe, without asking
me to relate the particulars that it would be no easy task to describe
our desolation and grief. Bro. Page and I did not think that god would
have deceived us through "Urim and Thummin [sic], " exactly as came the
Book of Mormon.
- Oliver Cowdery, Defense, p. 229
So why did Joseph Smith try selling the Book of Mormon copyright?
"Joseph Capron wrote that Smith hoped his volume would "relieve the
family from all pecuniary embarrassment." There is evidence from Mormon
sources to confirm Capron's recollections. Smith himself admitted in his
unpublished history that "he sought the plates to obtain riches."
"Hyrum Smith wrote to his grandfather, Asael, that he believed that
service to the Lord would bring the family their long-awaited
prosperity."
"In October 1829, Joseph wrote excitedly to Oliver Cowdery that Josiah
Stowell had a chance to obtain five or six hundred dollars and that he
was going to buy copies of the Book of Mormon. Lucy Mack Smith said that
when it was finally published in March 1830 the family had to sell
copies of the book to buy food."
"The economic situation of the Smith families was so desperate at this
time that Joseph tried to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon.
Hiram Page wrote with bitterness years later that the prophet heard he
could sell the copyright of any useful book in Canada and that he then
received a revelation that "this would be a good opportunity to get a
handsome sum.""
"Page explained that once expenses were met the profits were to be "for
the exclusive benefit of the Smith family and was to be at the disposal
of Joseph." Page indicated that they hoped to get $8,000 for the
copyright and that they traveled to Canada covertly to prevent Martin
Harris from sharing in the dividend. Smith evidently believed that
Harris was well enough off while his own family was destitute. When
Page, Cowdery, and Knight arrived at Kingston, Ontario, they found no
buyer."
"Martin Harris apparently learned of what was done, and Joseph
guaranteed him in writing that he would share in any profits made from
the subsequent sales of the book. In the spring of 1830 Harris walked
the streets of Palmyra, trying to sell as many copies of the new
scripture as he could. Shortly after Joseph Smith and Jesse Knight saw
him in the road with books in his hand, he told them "the books will not
sell for nobody wants them."
- Marvin S. Hill, Quest for Refuge, p.20-21
So when selling the Book of Mormon didn't make them money as they had hoped, Smith and company organized a church.
There is no revelation about selling the copyright of the Book of Mormon as alleged. Prove me wrong. Why you are quoting is a totally unfounded article that was produced some 40 years after the event by a very old man.
ReplyDeleteTherefor your entire article is in error. Yes, Joseph Smith admitted that he did think of getting riches directly from the Plates and he was chastised fo it. That is the only accurate reference you give in the entire article and you do so without any context. And, by the way, what is the "First Elder's Manuscript? It certainly was NOT the Book of Mormon.
What is a half-truth? It is a complete lie. I hope you did not know what you were publishing here. God bless you as, and only as, your work conforms to Christian principles.