While thus busily engaged, Samuel H. Smith, a brother of Joseph, came down from Manchester to Harmony. Joseph proclaimed to him the truth, so far as it had been revealed; presented to his view the translation of the Book of Mormon, so far as it had been completed; and then besought2 him to gain by prayer to Almighty3 God, a knowledge for himself concerning the divine origin of that which he had heard and seen. Samuel, a man of integrity and singleness and fixity of purpose, was not easily convinced. Finally, however, he consented to ask for light from Heaven. For this purpose he retired4 to the woods and humbled5 himself in supplication6 before the Lord. A convincing answer came to his prayer, and he hastened to Joseph with his tidings of joy. At the request of the Prophet, Oliver Cowdery administered to Samuel in the ordinance7 of baptism for the remission of his sins, and later he was confirmed. The same signs followed in this case; and Samuel was filled with the spirit of prophecy and praise. He uttered many sublime8 truths of which his mind up to that moment had never conceived. Desiring that his kindred might be made partakers of his joy, he journeyed quickly back to Manchester to give to the family the news of Joseph's extended calling. Hyrum Smith came to Harmony immediately afterward10 to inquire of Joseph concerning these wondrous11 things. The young Prophet declared to his elder brother that an angel from Heaven had restored to earth the power to baptize for the remission of human sin; and that himself and Oliver had been made the recipients12 of this authority.
Hyrum Smith was a noble man, filled with earnest desire for truth and holiness. He asked Joseph to obtain further light, and at his request the Prophet solicited13 a direct revelation from the Lord, on Hyrum's behalf. The desire was answered in a revelation given to Hyrum, through the Prophet. In that revelation, these words occur:
Hyrum, my son, seek the Kingdom of God, and all things shall be added according to that which is just. Build upon my rock, which is my Gospel. Deny not the Spirit of Revelation nor the Spirit of Prophecy; for woe14 unto him that denieth these things.
Hyrum believed and awaited the proper hour for baptism.
While the light of truth was thus breaking upon the world, all the powers of hell allied15 themselves against it, with the determination that it should be extinguished. Mobs increased in strength and hatred16. Added to this constant menace, Joseph once more found himself almost destitute17 of means. He would soon have been compelled to relinquish18 the glorious work of translation to engage again in manual toil19 for the sustenance20 of his family and to provide maintenance for himself and Oliver, had not Providence21 again raised up a friend to come to his aid.
In this eventful month of May, 1829, a man named Joseph Knight22 appeared at Harmony and sought out the Prophet. Mr. Knight had heard of Joseph's work and desired to contribute out of his means to the progress of the cause. He brought food and such other comforts as would enable the Prophet to continue his work of translation without being interrupted. Not only upon this occasion, but more than once subsequently, Joseph Knight journeyed from his home in Broome County, New York, a distance of thirty miles, to bring supplies to the Prophet's house.
Also in this month of May, Joseph received a revelation from God instructing him that the manuscript lost by Martin Harris had fallen into the hands of wicked men, who had made alterations23 with intent to bring shame and confusion upon Joseph, and distrust upon the word of the Lord; that the portion which was thus lost and changed was only a translation of an abridgment24 of certain records; and that, instead of translating once more this part of the work, Joseph should translate the record of the original plates from which the abridgment had been made—thus giving a more complete presentation of that portion of the history and thus preventing the wicked from bringing forth25 their forgery26 and casting discredit27 upon the Prophet by its means.
But the persecution28 did not cease, and the mobs seemed to be gathering29 their forces with some definite determination. At the opening of the month of June, 1829, immediate9 danger threatened the Prophet and his charge. But at this time a young man, calling himself David Whitmer, presented himself at the residence of Joseph and announced that he came with a message from his father, Peter Whitmer, of Fayette, Seneca County, New York. The message was an invitation from the elder Whitmer to Joseph, requesting him to remove with his work and his assistant to Fayette and there enjoy the hospitality of the Whitmers and the protection which they would be able to afford him, until his labor30 could be completed.
The young man David also related to Joseph a marvelous interposition which had enabled him to deliver his message so early. When David first felt an impression that he ought to journey to Harmony in search of Joseph, he questioned the wisdom of such a course; because his farm-work was in such a condition that much loss must ensue, he feared, if he departed at a time apparently31 so inopportune. He was pondering his doubts upon the subject, when he was instructed by the whispering of the Spirit that his duty required him to go down to Harmony as soon as his field labor should reach a certain state. He toiled32 during the ensuing day to harrow in the wheat of a large field; and at night he found that he had done more in a few hours than he could usually accomplish in two or three days. The next morning he went out to spread plaster, according to the custom of that region, upon another field. When he reached the spot where he had formerly33 deposited large heaps of the plaster, he found that it had been carried upon the field and spread just as he would have laid it by his own hand. He marveled much. His sister dwelt near the place and he asked her who had done the work. She answered him that three strangers had appeared at the field the day previous and had scattered34 the plaster with wonderful skill and speed. She and her children had viewed with amazement35 the progress made by the men; but she had said nothing to them as they were strangers, and she presumed that David had employed them to help him through his rush of work.
Both Peter Whitmer and his son regarded these events as miraculous interpositions to aid David to hasten down into Pennsylvania. The young man therefore departed with his horses and wagon36 the next morning and journeyed to Harmony, a distance, as traveled, of one hundred and fifty miles, in two days.
This aid came providentially; and Joseph, after receiving instruction in answer to prayer, accepted the invitation. When the Prophet was prepared to depart from Harmony, he asked the Lord to direct the manner in which the plates should be carried to Fayette. He was told in response that the angel would receive the treasures; and after the arrival of Joseph at the home of Peter Whitmer in Fayette, would again deliver them into his hands. Thus relieved, Joseph went serenely37 forth; and in a few days he was safe in Fayette. In the garden adjoining the Whitmer residence, the Prophet was visited by the angel and once more was placed in possession of the record.
The family of Peter Whitmer, and some other persons in the neighborhood, were very earnest inquirers after truth. The supernatural instruction and aid which David had received to go down into Pennsylvania and offer his father's house as a refuge to Joseph, amazed all who heard of the occurrence. Therefore Joseph found many people at Fayette anxious to receive him. Peter Whitmer and all the members of his household accorded to Joseph and also to Oliver every help and comfort within their bestowal38; and thus, without further anxiety as to their maintenance or safety, they were enabled to progress with the translation of the sacred history.
While they were not laboring39 upon this work, they were praying and teaching among the people. Thus the Prophet and his assistant Oliver wrought40 much good. Several honest, God-fearing souls became convinced that Joseph Smith was entrusted41 with a divine mission. And in this month of June, 1829, three persons were baptized in Seneca Lake, after the pattern and under the authority received from John, the forerunner42 of our Savior. Hyrum Smith and David Whitmer received this ordinance under the hand of the Prophet himself, and John Whitmer, a brother of David, was baptized by Oliver Cowdery.
The work of translation went on rapidly. When Oliver's hand would grow weary after some hours of writing, either John or David Whitmer would take his place and continue at the Prophet's dictation.
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1
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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2
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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5
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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7
ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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8
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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9
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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10
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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12
recipients
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| adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器 | |
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13
solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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14
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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15
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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17
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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18
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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19
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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20
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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23
alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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abridgment
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| n.删节，节本 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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27
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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29
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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30
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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31
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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32
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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33
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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34
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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35
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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36
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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37
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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38
bestowal
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| 赠与，给与； 贮存 | |
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39
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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40
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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41
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
forerunner
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| n.前身，先驱（者），预兆，祖先 | |
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