Transatlantic Antiquities

“For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known.”—Luke xii. 2.

All revelations of truth of whatever nature they be, whether discoveries in art or science, whether the mining operations of the geologist, or the explorations of the antiquary, are welcome to the saint of God. He knows well that he is in possession of principle and truths that cannot be shaken, and whatever discoveries are made, he is conscious that they must all become subservient, and lend their aid to establish the principles of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Book of Mormon, upon which so much ridicule has been thrown by the learned of the day, and which, in the estimation of their judgments is altogether unworthy of notice, will yet appear radiant with the power of divine truth that shall be manifest unto the nations, and it shall occupy no unimportant part in the decisions of the great and final day.

The wisdom or modern divines supposes that if the Lord, verily, in the last days had a prophet on the earth, that he must necessarily be of the class of the learned, the elegant, and the scholastic; and that all writings emanating from such a one, must be faultless in their construction, and irresistibly convincing in their argument, totally forgetful that whomsoever the Lord employs would act in simplicity and sincerity, and if uneducated, as many of his servants in ages pass he would use the Language at his command without directing that of which he was not capable.

Again, a general opinion obtains, but one certainly most erroneous, which is, that the arguments and persuasions of a prophet would certainly be convincing to all that heard them, and the general impression is, that if holy men as of old were to make their appearance, their reception would be very different in this enlightened and christian age to what it was amongst the wicked people of other days; but not so, there cannot possibly be a greater mistake—the learned, the righteous, and the zealous for religion, would be the first to persecute to the death. The Saints con­nected with the work of God in the last days have seen this fact fearfully realized.

But with regard to the Book of Mormon, It has come forth bearing testimony of a mighty people who populated the western world; it has given evidence of their wealth, their power, their magnificence, and the splendid cities which they raised in their pride and greatness; it has given also a history of their fall and terrible de­struction, and of the causes thereof, and from the year 1830, when it issued to the world (the sceptical world which denied its authenticity), men have been labouring unconsciously to prove its truth—from the researches of Josiah Priest, issued about three years after its publication, down to the labours of Messrs. Stephens and Catherwood, they have made discoveries of the remains of mighty cities in the very localities where the Book of Mormon had fixed them, and bearing testimony of the mighty convulsions by which they were described as being over­thrown.

We, therefore, rejoice much at the prospect of further labours being effected by the combined energy of the French and English savans, and wishing them all pos­sible success, we shall wait the result of their explorations with much interest.

Editor.

We are assured that there is now every probability of a successful combination between scientific men in France and England for the purpose of completely ex­ploring the ancient remains of countries which w ere flourishing in civilization whilst modern Europe was still sunk in comparative darkness:—

“A year ago we mentioned a scientific commission formed here, with the object of preparing for the provinces of Mexico and Central America, an exploring expe­dition which should extend and complete the discoveries, so wonderful already, of the first expedition. This Transatlantic exploring scheme, which at first was but the yearning of some spirits devoted to science, is now a matter of certain success, after the efforts made during the past year.

“Never, it must be acknowledged, has there existed so great a disposition to form such societies for enterprises of this kind. At the present day archeological expeditions are treated and undertaken in a manner very different from the time when Champollion deciphered the hieroglyphics of Longsor and of Medinet-Abon, and when Volney sat in the Temple of the Sun, in the shade of the columns of Palmyra.

“Persepolis and Babylona have exhausted neither the ardour nor the enthusiasm of savans and poets. Egypt has been searched in every corner, but much still re­mains to be examined in the archeological world. Between Egypt and Persia, on the one side, and Central America on the other, there are regions at present almost deserted, formerly peopled and flourishing, where must be found sumptuous palaces, majestic sculptures, everything, in a word, that constitutes the necessary magni­ficence of an advanced civilisation.

“What has already been discovered at Palenque, which has been called the Thebes of America, will give an idea of the vacuum that is still to be filled in the history of art. It is this vacuum which it is the object of the exploring commission to fill. It has no other object. It will be carried out by the simultaneous efforts of the French and English savans, according to the plan expressed by M. de Chateau­briand in that important work the ‘Mexican Antiquities.’ This Transatlantic ex­ploration, which will excite a lively interest in all enlightened minds, deserves the support necessary for realizing all the hopes that are attached to it by spreading some rays of light over the ancient destinies of the American continent.”—Journal des Debats.