The Right Person

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The Right Person

After recovering from his fright, he enquired why he could not obtain the plates; to which the spirit made reply, because you have not obeyed your orders. He then enquired when he could have them, and was answered thus: come one year from this day, and bring with you your oldest brother, and you shall have them. This spirit, he said was the spirit of the prophet who wrote this book, and who was sent to Joseph Smith, to make known these things to him. Before the expiration of the year, his oldest brother died; which the old man said was an accidental providence!<br>
   Joseph went one year from that day, to demand the book, and the spirit enquired for his brother, and he said that he was dead. The spirit then commanded him to come again, in just one year, and bring a man with him. On asking who might be the man, he was answered that he would know him when he saw him.<br>
   Joseph believed that one Samuel T. Lawrence was the man alluded to by the spirit, and went with him to a singular looking hill, in Manchester, and shewed him where the treasure was. Lawrence asked him if he had ever discovered any thing with the plates of gold; he said no: he then asked him to look in his stone, to see if there was any thing with them. He looked, and said there was nothing; he told him to look again, and see if there was not a large pair of specks with the plates; he looked and soon saw a pair of spectacles, the same with which Joseph says he translated the Book of Mormon. Lawrence told him it would not be prudent to let these plates be seen for about two years, as it would make a great disturbance in the neighborhood. Not long after this, Joseph altered his mind, and said L. was not the right man, nor had he told him the right place. About this time he went to Harmony in Pennsylvania, and formed an acquaintance with a young lady, by the name of Emma Hale, whom he wished to marry.

Mormonism Unvailed, E.D. Howe, pgs 242-43

Willard Chase Account

Willard Chase, witnessed by Fred'k Smith

11 Dec 1833

   After recovering from his fright, he enquired why he could not obtain the plates; to which the spirit made reply, because you have not obeyed your orders. He then enquired when he could have them, and was answered thus: come one year from this day, and bring with you your oldest brother, and you shall have them. This spirit, he said was the spirit of the prophet who wrote this book, and who was sent to Joseph Smith, to make known these things to him. Before the expiration of the year, his oldest brother died; which the old man said was an accidental providence!
   Joseph went one year from that day, to demand the book, and the spirit enquired for his brother, and he said that he was dead. The spirit then commanded him to come again, in just one year, and bring a man with him. On asking who might be the man, he was answered that he would know him when he saw him.
   Joseph believed that one Samuel T. Lawrence was the man alluded to by the spirit, and went with him to a singular looking hill, in Manchester, and shewed him where the treasure was. Lawrence asked him if he had ever discovered any thing with the plates of gold; he said no: he then asked him to look in his stone, to see if there was any thing with them. He looked, and said there was nothing; he told him to look again, and see if there was not a large pair of specks with the plates; he looked and soon saw a pair of spectacles, the same with which Joseph says he translated the Book of Mormon. Lawrence told him it would not be prudent to let these plates be seen for about two years, as it would make a great disturbance in the neighborhood. Not long after this, Joseph altered his mind, and said L. was not the right man, nor had he told him the right place. About this time he went to Harmony in Pennsylvania, and formed an acquaintance with a young lady, by the name of Emma Hale, whom he wished to marry.

he exclaimed why Cant I stur this Book and he was answered you cant have it now Joseph says when can I have it the answer was the 22nt Day of September next if you Bring the right person with you Joseph says who is the right Person the answer was your oldest Brother But before September Came his oldest Brother Died then he was Disapinted and did not now what to do but when the 22nt Day of September Came he went to the place and the personage appeard and told him he Could not have it now but the 22nt Day of September nex he mite have the Book if he Brot with him the right person Joseph says who is the right Person the answer was you will know then he looked in his glass and found it was Emma Hale Daughter of old Mr Hail of Pensylvany a girl that he had seen Before for he had Bin Down there Before with me

Joseph Knight reminiscences, Church History Library, pg 2

Joseph Knight Account

Joseph Knight

he exclaimed why Cant I stur this Book and he was answered you cant have it now Joseph says when can I have it the answer was the 22nt Day of September next if you Bring the right person with you Joseph says who is the right Person the answer was your oldest Brother But before September Came his oldest Brother Died then he was Disapinted and did not now what to do but when the 22nt Day of September Came he went to the place and the personage appeard and told him he Could not have it now but the 22nt Day of September nex he mite have the Book if he Brot with him the right person Joseph says who is the right Person the answer was you will know then he looked in his glass and found it was Emma Hale Daughter of old Mr Hail of Pensylvany a girl that he had seen Before for he had Bin Down there Before with me

The year passed over before Joseph was aware of it, so time passed by; but he went to the place of deposit, where the same man appeared again, and said he had not been punctual in following his directions, and, in consequence, he could not have the article yet. Joseph asked when he could have them; and the answer was, Come in one year from this time, and bring your oldest brother with you; then you may have them. During that year, it so happened that his oldest brother died; but, at the end of the year, Joseph repaired to the place again, and was told by the man who still guarded the treasure, that, inasmuch as he could not bring his oldest brother, he could not have the treasure yet; but there would be another person appointed to come with him in one year from that time, when he could have it. Joseph asked, How shall I know the person? and was told that the person would be known to him at sight. During that year, Joseph went to the town of Harmony, in the State of Pennsylvania, at the request of some one who wanted the assistance of his divining rod and stone in finding hidden treasure, supposed to have been deposited there by the Indians or others. While there, he fell in company with a young woman; and, when he first saw her, he was satisfied that she was the person appointed to go with him to get the treasure he had so often failed to secure. To insure success, he courted and married her.

Historical Magazine (second series),Vol 7, Interview with the Father of Joseph Smith, pg 307

Interview with Joseph Smith Sr.

Fayette Lapham

The year passed over before Joseph was aware of it, so time passed by; but he went to the place of deposit, where the same man appeared again, and said he had not been punctual in following his directions, and, in consequence, he could not have the article yet. Joseph asked when he could have them; and the answer was, "Come in one year from this time, and bring your oldest brother with you; then you may have them." During that year, it so happened that his oldest brother died; but, at the end of the year, Joseph repaired to the place again, and was told by the man who still guarded the treasure, that, inasmuch as he could not bring his oldest brother, he could not have the treasure yet; but there would be another person appointed to come with him in one year from that time, when he could have it. Joseph asked, "How shall I know the person?" and was told that the person would be known to him at sight. During that year, Joseph went to the town of Harmony, in the State of Pennsylvania, at the request of some one who wanted the assistance of his divining rod and stone in finding hidden treasure, supposed to have been deposited there by the Indians or others. While there, he fell in company with a young woman; and, when he first saw her, he was satisfied that she was the person appointed to go with him to get the treasure he had so often failed to secure. To insure success, he courted and married her.

TO THE PUBLIC.<br>
   Whereas reports have been industriously put in circulation that my son Alvin had been removed from the place of his interment and dissected, which reports, every person possessed of human sensibility must know, are peculiarly calculated to harrow up the mind of a parent and deeply wound the feelings of relations - therefore, for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of such reports, I, with some of my neighbors this morning repaired to the grave, and removing the earth, found the body which had not been disturbed.<br>
   This method is taken for the purpose of satisfying the minds of those who may have heard the report, and of informing those who have put it in circulation, that it is earnestly requested they would desist therefrom; and that it is believed by some, that they have been stimulated more by a desire to injure thh reputation of certain persons than a philanthropy for the peace and welfare of myself and friends.<br>
   JOSEPH SMITH.<br>

Wayne Sentinel, Sep 29, 1824, pg 3, col 5

Exhumation of Alvin Smith

Joseph Smith, Sr.

25 Sep, 1824

   TO THE PUBLIC.
   Whereas reports have been industriously put in circulation that my son Alvin had been removed from the place of his interment and dissected, which reports, every person possessed of human sensibility must know, are peculiarly calculated to harrow up the mind of a parent and deeply wound the feelings of relations - therefore, for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of such reports, I, with some of my neighbors this morning repaired to the grave, and removing the earth, found the body which had not been disturbed.
   This method is taken for the purpose of satisfying the minds of those who may have heard the report, and of informing those who have put it in circulation, that it is earnestly requested they would desist therefrom; and that it is believed by some, that they have been stimulated more by a desire to injure thh reputation of certain persons than a philanthropy for the peace and welfare of myself and friends.
   JOSEPH SMITH.

Then he exclaimed, Why can't I get it? or words to that effect; and then he saw a man standing over the spot... who told him that he could not get it alone; that another person whom he, Smith, would know at first sight, must come with him, and then he could get it. And when Smith saw Miss Emma Hale, he knew that she was the person, and that after they were married, she went with him to near the place, and stood with her back toward him, while he dug up the box, which he rolled up in his frock.

Joseph Smith the Prophet His Family and His Friends, pg 80

Hiel and Joseph Lewis account

Hiel and Joseph Lewis

23 Apr, 1879

Then he exclaimed, "Why can't I get it?" or words to that effect; and then he saw a man standing over the spot... who told him that he could not get it alone; that another person whom he, Smith, would know at first sight, must come with him, and then he could get it. And when Smith saw Miss Emma Hale, he knew that she was the person, and that after they were married, she went with him to near the place, and stood with her back toward him, while he dug up the box, which he rolled up in his frock.

After he pretended to have found the gold plates, I had a conversation with him, and asked him where he found them and how he come to know where they were. He said he had a revelation from God that told him they were hid in a certain hill and he looked in his stone and saw them in the place of deposit; that an angel appeared, and told him he could not get the plates until he was married, and that when he saw the woman that was to be his wife, he should know her, and she would know him. He then went to Pennsylvania, got his wife, and they both went together and got the gold plates - he said it was revealed to him, that no one must see the plates but himself and wife.

Mormonism Unvailed, E.D. Howe, pg 252

Henry Harris Account

Henry Harris, witnessed by Jonathan Lapham

After he pretended to have found the gold plates, I had a conversation with him, and asked him where he found them and how he come to know where they were. He said he had a revelation from God that told him they were hid in a certain hill and he looked in his stone and saw them in the place of deposit; that an angel appeared, and told him he could not get the plates until he was married, and that when he saw the woman that was to be his wife, he should know her, and she would know him. He then went to Pennsylvania, got his wife, and they both went together and got the gold plates - he said it was revealed to him, that no one must see the plates but himself and wife.

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Naked Truths About Mormonism, Vol 1, No 1, pg 2, col 7

William Hine's statement

William Riley Hine, witnessed by A. B. Deming

Jo told Emma he had a revelation about the plates, but that he could not obtain them until he had married her.

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Kansas City Times, April 11, 1895

Katherine Smith Salisbury's Talk

Katherine Smith Salisbury

11 Apr, 1895

   Joseph said; "What shall I do?"
   He said: "Come here next year at this time and bring your oldest brother with you, and you can receive the records."
   In November my brother took sick, and through the ministering of medicine by the doctors he passed away. Joseph went to the place and inquired of the angel what he should do now.
   The angel said, "You must bring some person with you."
   And Joseph said, "Who shall I bring? My oldest brother is gone."
   The angel said, "You will know her when you see her."
   That fall he went down to Pennsylvania and became acquainted with his wife, Miss Hale, and he knew when he saw her that she was the one to go with him to get the records.

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