nant of His people, scattered throughout
all nations; that the remnant of His people should be united with
the stick of Judah, in the hands of Ephraim, and they should
become one stick in the hands of the Lord. This is the Bible,
which is the stick of Judah, that contained the gospel and the
records of the House of Israel, till the Messiah came. The angel
further informed Joseph that when the ten tribes of Israel were
scattered one branch went to the north; that prior to the birth
of Jesus Christ the other branch left Jerusalem, taking the
records with them, of which the Book of Mormon is a part. The
branch of the ten tribes which went north doubtless have a record
with them.

When these plates containing the Book of Mormon and God's will,
as therein revealed, were removed from Ontario County, New York,
they were taken to Professor Anthon, of New York City, for
translation. He replied that he could not translate them, that
they were written in "a sealed language, unknown to the present
age." This was just as the Prophet Isaiah said it should be.

Do any of the present denominations counsel with the Lord? No,
they deny Revelation, and seek to hide their ways from Him. Upon
all such He pronounces woe. I do not wish to be considered as
casting aspersions on any other sect. It is not my purpose to do
so. The love that I have for truth and the salvation of the human
family may cause me to offend, but if I do so it is because of my
exceeding zeal to do good. Remember that the reproof of a friend
is better than the smite of an enemy. Jesus said, "Woe unto you
that are angry and offended because of the truth."

It is not policy on your part to be offended on account of the
truth. If your systems will not stand the scrutiny of men, how
can they stand the test of the great Judge of both the living and
the dead? I place a greater value upon the salvation of my soul
than I do upon all earthly considerations.

After my second discussion I began to baptize some of the leading
members of the Campbellite Church. Among the first to be baptized
were John Thompson and wife. Brother Thompson was sheriff of
Rutherford County, and an influential man. Among others who were
baptized were Wm. Pace and wife. Mrs. Pace was a sister of Parson
Nichols, who assisted Parson Hall in his last discussion with me.
Major D. M. Jarratt and wife, Mrs. Caroline Ghiliam, Major Miles
Anderson, and others were also baptized and received into the
Church.