Internal Evidences of the Book of Mormon

INTERNAL EVIDENCES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

BY ELDER HEBER J. BURGON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE IRISH CONFERENCE.

If the reader doubts the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, or if he is without a testimony that the work is divine, he is directed to the words of the Prophet Moroni, the last writer in the Book of Mormon, who gives a key whereby every person into whose hands the book may ever come, can find out for a surety if it is true or not.

Speaking to those who may receive the book in future generations, he says, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost; and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni x:4-5.)

Here is a promise made within the book itself to all—rich or poor, bond or free, Jew or Greek—whereby they can satisfy themselves concerning its truthfulness. Let us examine this promise and put it to the test; but before doing so let us remember that the promise quoted above was given to the world some months before any, except it might be Joseph Smith and his immediate associates, had as yet received a testimony of the truthfulness of the divine record.

Now if the conditions upon which the promise was made by Moroni and published to the world by Joseph Smith are complied with, and the promised testimony and assurance do not come, then we can undoubtedly say that the book is not true, and that Joseph Smith was an imposter; but on the other hand, if we find that all people, whether in Europe, America, or the islands of the sea, who have complied with the required conditions of humbly and sin­cerely asking God in Faith in the name of Jesus Christ, have received the assurance from the Holy Spirit that it is true, then we have found such evi­dence of the truthfulness of the book that no man can dispute or gainsay it.

In our examination into the result of the test, let us remember that it is now only seventy-five years since the prophet stood practically alone with this testimony. To-day we find among the Latter-day Saints alone many thou­sands of people who have put the promise to the test and have proved to their entire satisfaction that the fulfillment thereof is sure. They give to the world their testimonies that the Holy Ghost has made it known unto them.

Besides this we are safe in saying that there are hundreds of people of the world who have gained the same testimony, but have not connected them­selves with the Church.

While many have tried to prove the book to be false and the Prophet to be a deceiver, we have failed as yet to hear of one who has obeyed the words of Moroni in sincerity and with a desire to know, who can say that the promise was not fulfilled.

The claims made by the Prophet that the Book of Mormon was translated from golden plates, through the gift and power of God is naturally doubted at first by the people of the world. Upon hearing the story from the lips of the humble messenger of truth, the first questions generally asked by the enquirer are. “Where are the plates now?’ and “Who saw them besides Joseph Smith?’

On the first pages of every Book of Mormon will be found the testimonies of eleven men, which will answer the last question. When we remember that in any civilized law court the testimony of three eye witnesses to an act is sufficient to establish a fact, does it not strike us as a strong evidence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, when we read the testimonies of three men who declare to the world that an angel from heaven stood before them and showed to them the plates from which the book was translated1? Eight others also gave to the world their names as testimonies that they did handle the plates and did see the engravings thereon.

Let us remember that when the boy Prophet first made known the know­ledge of the divine records, he stood alone with the whole world bitterly opposed to him and his testimony. Should his testimony be proved to be true, it would at once prove a great many of the religious teachings of the world to be false. Considering these conditions, does it seem reasonable that the youth could have induced eleven of the most reliable men of the vicinity where he lived, each fully knowing the opposition and persecution that would follow, to give their testimonies and signatures to “every nation, kindred, tongue and people,” that they had seen the plates and the engravings thereon Can we believe that the despised and persecuted farmer boy could have per­suaded Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, all honorable and respected men, to testify to the world that an angel of heaven came down and showed to them the sacred volume of ancient history, if such had not been true? Is it not reasonable to believe that had they lied, in future years when some of them became bitter enemies to the prophet, they would have denied their words, and would have tried to prove Joseph an imposter and a deceiver?

On the other hand we know that, notwithstanding the feeling of animosity they had for him, they all testified to their death that their testimonies were true. This fact is one of the most strikingly strong proofs of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

Why then will not men accept these most plain proofs? It might be asked, “Why did not the Jews accept Jesus Christ with all His plain and convinc­ing proofs that He was the Messiah?” and the answer is, Because He did not come in the way they expected Him. Likewise with the Book of Mormon, it did not come forth in the way modern Christendom thinks it should have come.

Again history repeats itself in that divine truth is established through the instrumentality of one born in humble circumstances, that “The wisdom of their wise men shall perish.”