character and conduct of the individual.

and condition; the education and the birth through life, so will be the condition of all being made as superior as the concentrated knowledge and power of the race can devise, and, with the materials at its control, can execute, The existing irrational-made society over the earth has been taught to believe that such a superior state of human existence was never intended for man, and that it is unattainable.

The Founder of the Rational System admits that it is unattainable under the false principles, insane arrangements, and consequent injurious practices, which have hitherto universally prevailed.

But he contends that the rational system is fully competent to create the conditions that will insure the superior results stated, and which conditions will also enable and cause man permanently to progress towards excellence in all things, as knowledge increases through the experience of each generation.

And that society now possesses the most ample means to surround all with good and superior conditions; but that it has not yet acquired the knowledge of what good conditions are, or how they are to be introduced into universal practice.

And also that it has hitherto been impracticable to introduce these conditions into partial practice, in consequence of the deadly opposition of the existing irrational and insane system to the language of truth and to the principles and practices of the rational, superior, and happy state of existence upon earth.

And that that portion of the human race which, under the existing irrational and insane system is deemed to be the best and the most respectable, and which therefore possesses the most influence in all countries and localities, is the most opposed to the change of the language of falsehood for that of truth,

to the change of false principles for true,-to the giving up of inferior and evil conditions,-and to the admitting of the introduction of those conditions which are superior and good.

And he contends that the authorities of the more civilized parts of the earth may immediately commence this new state of the true and superior existence of man, and may thus make the earth a terrestrial Paradise, inhabited by a new race of superior beings; and that, to effect this glorious change in the character and condition of the human race will now be a simple straightfor-their youth to know true principles and ward matter of business. to distinguish good from evil conditions.

He contends that this is to be effected by superseding the false fundamental principle upon which society has been hitherto based, and the old practices necessarily emanating from it; and by adopting the true fundamental principle and the practices which will necessarily proceed from that principle.

He contends that the false principle has created, of necessity, inferior, injurious, and vicious conditions, around the human race; and that the true principle will, of like necessity, create good and superior conditions only around the whole of mankind.

And he continually reiterates that, as are the organization and the external conditions in which it is placed from

But this is their misfortune, arising from their not having been taught in

To overcome this insane-made state of mind, of feeling, and of conduct, according to the Founder of the Rational System, they must not be abused or harshly treated.

Those who comprehend the rational social system know how the characters of these so-called respectable parties have been misformed-how their minds have been filled with false ideas and false associations of ideas,-and how their errors and prejudices have been thus forced to grow from their birth.

The rational Socialists, therefore, pity the state of mind and feeling of these greatly abused parties, and view them with the same compassion as they do the lunatics who are confined in asylums

for a different, and sometimes a more violent phase of insanity.

which the individuals have been placed from their birth, and even, by the conditions of their parents, before birth.

And it induces all to consider the causes which produce the effects which arise around them, and to use their best endeavours to remove, in peace and with order, those causes which are producing injurious effects.

And, according to the recommendation of the Founder of this system, the treatment of those who are now deemed the most respectable, as they are the most prejudiced under the existing irrational system, should be precisely the same as the treatment now applied to the patients in the most humanely and The true disciples of this system, best managed lunatic asylums, in which therefore, never apply abusive language all force, harshness, and unkind treat- to any one,-never exhibit uncharitable ment are avoided to the greatest extent or unkind feelings,—nor attempt to inpracticable; and in which the aberra- jure any one, but are always advocates tions of mind and conduct are sympa- of peace between individuals and nathized with, and mild measures of tions.

without force or fear, through the influence of good conditions, and especially of the good conditions of undeviating kindness, directed by judgment based on a knowledge of the laws of humanity; a rational education,-not the mere teaching of words, but with instruction in a substantial knowledge of things.

prevention of evil are adopted; which They are also advocates of universal measures, if consistently applied, and education from birth, by a training persevered in without impatience, and in the pure spirit of universal charity and kindness, effect a permanent cure of the insanity. In like manner the true disciples of the Rational Social System, will act towards all who continue afflicted with the errors and prejudices of this old system, now fortunately almost worn out through the violence, falsehood, fraud, and physical and mental oppressions which it creates, and the miseries, now almost unbearable, which it inflicts upon so large a portion of the human race.

But many, now, all over the earth, profess themselves to be disciples of this Rational Social System, who, unfortunately, are very imperfectly acquainted with its principles or practices.

There is, however, a criterion by which the public may distinguish the true disciples of this system without mistake from all others.

The fundamental principle on which the rational system is based withdraws all motives to anger or ill-will against | any of human kind—all desire to injure any one; and, on the contrary, creates the feeling of charity and kindness for all, and a sincere desire to benefit every one, without exception.

Knowing that no one makes himself, and that, therefore, no one can have any merit, whatever excellence may be given to him,-and also that no one can have any demerit, whatever defects, arising from organization or from injurious education and other conditions, he may possess, the true disciple of the rational system advocates the creation of equally good conditions for and around all, and the absence of artificial inequalities in the position and treatment of the entire family of man.

The true disciples of this systemknowing that the new and the old system can never amalgamate, they being the North and South Pole to each other-never advocate an attempt to unite the two systems.

Neither do they advocate any measures to violently or prematurely destroy the existing system, irrational It makes the allowance which should and insane as they know it to be; but always be made for the differences of they propose measures to gradually organization between individuals, and supersede the one by the other, by for the difference of the conditions in scientific arrangements which shall pre

vent the new, while in its progress, has remained ignorant of those condi

from injuring the members of the old, in mind, body, or estate.

tions which will make him superior and will insure his happiness.

That the want of this knowledge has

In short, the disciples of the rational social system of society, intend and ex-made him, through his past history, to pect to supersede over the world the be actively employed in devising and present system, which they deem most forming inferior conditions, which have irrational, by conviction, effected so far kept him in an irrational, conthrough the simple statements of truth, tending, and unhappy state; and that conveyed in the spirit of universal this is his present state of existence. charity and kindness.

RECAPITULATION.

That the discovery has now been made by the founder of the rational

The Rational Social System, accord-system of society, of the conditions ing to its founder,which can make the human race, good, Is opposed in principle and practice wise, and happy; by which this goodto the system which has hitherto pre-ness, wisdom, and happiness will be vailed at all times over the world, and made to increase through all succeeding can never be united with that system; generations;-new conditions, by which but it may be made peaceably and most man will be made to have charity and advantageously to supersede it. love for man, and peace and progress over the earth will be made to exist everlastingly.

This rational system admits that a Power exists throughout the universe, which does whatever is done, and which, of course, creates man, and gives to him all his qualities, inclinations, and powers of willing and acting; but it asserts that no one knows what this Power is, or its cause of action.

That, to effect this change, man must be newly placed, newly educated, newly employed, and newly governed, in such manner that not one over the earth shall be neglected from birth to death, or shall be surrounded through life with It asserts that, if there could ration-one inferior or bad condition. ally be any artificial responsibility, this Power, called by whatever name it may be-whether it be called God, or Nature, or Jehovah, or Providence, &c.—as it makes man, and sustains him through every moment of his existence, would be so responsible to man for what it makes him to be; for insanity alone could make the created accountable for its qualities, &c., to its Creator, which makes it in every respect what it is.

That man is created, like all that has conscious life, with the desire to be happy; and that the attainment of happiness is the object of his existence. That certain conditions make him inferior in qualities and unhappy.

That certain other conditions will make him superior and will insure his happiness.

That his faculties are in a state of gradual development; and that hitherto, while he has been progressing to the period which he has now attained, he|

That this change of system may be now generally commenced; and that it may be made gradually to supersede the present false, artificial, and irrational system, over the world.

That, to effect this change, it is only required to abandon a palpable falsehood and its necessary practices, and to adopt a palpable truth and its necessary consequent practices.

That this change will be a transition from a world of inferior or bad conditions, to a world of superior and good conditions, and from the language of falsehood and conduct of deception, to the language of truth and conduct of honesty and universal confidence of man in man.

This change may now be effected by the authorities of the world; and it may be easily carried into execution, because it will secure the permanent happiness of every one.

SOMERHILL, TONBRIDGE, KENT,
September, 1852.

THE MORMONS, OR LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

BY JOSEPH SMITH,

NAUVOO, ILLINOIS.

in the declaration of James-"If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Believing the Word of God, I had Day Saints was founded upon direct re- confidence velation, as the true church of God has ever been, according to the Scriptures, (Amos iii. 7, and Acts i. 2.) And, through the will and blessings of God, I have been an instrument in his hands, thus far, to move forward the cause of Zion. Therefore, in order to fulfil the solicitation of your letter of July last, I shall commence with my life.

I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 23d of December, A.D. 1805. When ten years old, my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester, a distance of six miles.

My father was a farmer, and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future place; and, upon inquiring the state of salvation, I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment. If I went to one society, they referred me to one place, and another to another-each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church, it would not be split up into factions, and that if he taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, he would not teach another principles which were diametrically opposed.

I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enrapt in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light, which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom. And I was expressly commanded to go not after them," at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the Gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.

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On the evening of the 21st September, A.D. 1823, while I was praying unto God, and endeavouring to exercise faith in the precious promises of Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room; indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to

bring the joyful tidings, that the cove- | the records was found a curious instrunant which God made with ancient ment, which the ancients called "Urim Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that and Thummim," which consisted of two the preparatory work for the second transparent stones, set in the rim on a coming of the Messiah was speedily to bow fastened to a breast-plate. commence; that the time was at hand for the Gospel in all its fulness to be preached in power, unto all nations, that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God, to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation.

Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God.

In this important and interesting book, the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era.

I was informed, also, concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, We are informed by these records, and shown who they were and from that America, in ancient times, has whence they came; a brief sketch of been inhabited by two distinct races of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, people. The first were called Jaredites, governments of their righteousness and came directly from the tower of and iniquity, and the blessings of God Babel. The second race came directly being finally withdrawn from them as from the city of Jerusalem, about six a people was made known unto me. hundred years before Christ. They I was also told where there was de- were principally Israelites, of the desposited some plates, on which was en-cendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were graven an abridgment of the records of destroyed about the time that the Israelthe ancient prophets that had existed on ites came from Jerusalem, who sucthis continent. The angel appeared to ceeded them in the inheritance of the me three times the same night, and un-country. The principal nation of the folded the same things. After having received many visits from the angels of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22d of September, A.D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands.

second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnaut are the Indians who now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Saviour made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection; that he planted the Gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and These records were engraven on plates power, and blessing; that they had which had the appearance of gold; each apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, plate was six inches wide and eight and evangelists—the same order, the inches long, and not quite so thick as same priesthood, the same ordinances, common tin. They were filled with en- gifts, powers, and blessing, as was engravings in Egyptian characters, and joyed on the eastern continent; that bound together in a volume, as the the people were cut off in consequence leaves of a book, with three rings run-of their transgressions; that the last of ning through the whole. The volume their prophets who existed among them was something near six inches in thick- was commanded to write an abridgness, a part of which was sealed. The ment of their prophecies, history, &c., characters on the unsealed part were and to hide it up in the earth, and that small, and beautifully engraved. The it should come forth, and be united whole book exhibited many marks of with the Bible, for the accomplishment antiquity in its construction, and much of the purposes of God in the last skill in the art of engraving. With days. For a more particular account,