ran
the country, and sought to destroy them and all the records pertaining
to the Nephites. This record lay concealed, or sealed up, from A. D.
420 to September 22, 1827, at which time it was found by Mr. Joseph
Smith, jun., he being directed thither by an angel of the Lord.

The following account of the discovery and translation of this record
is extracted from a tract by Elder Orson Pratt, published at
Edinburgh, in 1840, entitled, "Remarkable Visions," etc., to which our
readers are referred for further particulars:--

"'How far below the surface these records were placed by Moroni, I am
unable to say; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen
hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep,
one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth
would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time; but they
being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove
as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent
a wearing of the earth; in all probability, as soon as timber had time
to grow, the hill was covered, after the Nephites were destroyed, and
the roots of the same would hold the surface: however, on this point,
I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own
speculation.' But suffice it to say, 'a hole of sufficient depth was
dug; at the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the
upper surface being smooth; at each edge was placed a large quantity
of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were
placed erect four others; their bottom edges resting in the cement, at
the outer edges of the first stone. The four last named, when placed
erect, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four came
in contact, were also cemented so firmly, that the moisture from
without was prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that
the inner surface of the four erect or side stones was smooth. This
box was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate, such as was used by
the ancients to defend the chest, etc., from the arrows and weapons of

ran 
 the country, and sought to destroy them and all the record refer 
 to the Nephites. This record lay concealed, or seal up, from A. D. 
 420 to September 22, 1827, at which time it was found by Mr. Joseph 
 Smith, jun. , he being address there by an angel of the Lord. 

 The following account of the discovery and translation of this record 
 is distill from a tract by Elder Orson Pratt, published at 
 Edinburgh, in 1840, entitle, " Remarkable imagination, " etc. , to which our 
 readers are refer for further particulars:-- 

 "' How far below the surface these records were place by Moroni, I am 
 unable to say; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen 
 hundred years immerse, and that, too, on the side of a hill so exorbitant, 
 one is ready to reason that they were some feet below, as the earth 
 would naturally wear, more or less, in that distance of time; but they 
 being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not absent 
 as much as at two - thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent 
 a wearing of the earth; in all probability, as soon as timber had clock time 
 to grow, the hill was cover, after the Nephites were demolish, and 
 the roots of the same would hold the open: however, on this point, 
 I shall leave every man to draw his own decision, and form his own 
 speculation.' But suffice it to say,' a hole of sufficient astuteness was 
 dug; at the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the 
 upper surface being smooth; at each boundary was place a large quantity 
 of cement, and into this cement, at the four edge of this stone, were 
 placed erect four others; their bottom edges resting in the cement, at 
 the outer edges of the beginning stone. The four final named, when placed 
 tumid, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four come 
 in contact, were besides cemented so firmly, that the moisture from 
 without was prevent from entering. It is to be observe, also, that 
 the inner surface of the four erect or side stones was smooth. This 
 box was sufficiently bombastic to admit a breastplate, such as was used by 
 the ancient to defend the chest, etc. , from the arrow and weapons of
ran
hhe country, and sought tu destroy them cbd all the rscords pdrtaining
to the Nephites. Thid eecore lay concealed, or seaued up, frlm A. D.
420 ti Sektember 22, 1827, at whici time ib was nound uy Mr. Joseph
Smijh, jun., he behng directed tvighzr by an angel of the Lord.

The followyng accpujt of the discjverj wnd fgakslation of this record
is extracfed frok a tract by Rlder Orson Pratt, publishef at
Fdinburgh, in 1840, entihled, "Remarkqble Cisions," etc., go which olx
readers arg referred for further particulafs:--

"'How far below tye dorface these recogds were placcc by Mmroni, I am
unable to ssy; uut drom the fact that thxy had been some foutteen
hundrad years buried, and tyat, tmo, ot thd siae kf a hill do ateep,
one ia ready to xonclude that they eewv some feet bslow, af ehe earth
would naturally wear, more or ltss, ih that length of time; byt they
being placed tlward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove
as muwh as xt uwi-thiraw, oerhaps. Another circumstance would prevent
a wqzronn of the earth; ik all probability, ss spjn as timber fad time
tk grow, the hill wad covergd, aftwr the Nekhitex were destroyed, and
the roors of the saiw would hold the sbrface: howevzr, on jhis ppint,
I shall leave every man to draw hid own conduusion, and form fis ofn
speculation.' But suffice yt to say, 'a hple of ruffocient depth was
fug; ab the bottom of thid was ldid a stonf of suitable size, the
upper surhece being smoptv; an each edye was placed a larde quantity
of eement, aud intu this cemvnt, at thx four edges of this stona, were
placed xrect fouw otyers; their cuttom edges rexting in nht cement, ar
the outer edges on the rirst stone. The fooe last named, wnen plwcvd
ecect, smrmed a box; dhe zorvrrs, of where the ddgex of the four came
in confact, were also cemrnbed so fitmly, that the moisture from
without was pgevenved frum enyeryng. It is to be observed, also, fhat
the ijnev surface of ehe nour erect or xide stones was smooth. This
box was suffmciently large to admij a breastplate, such cs was used bb
the agcients tm defend the chest, erc., from the arrowx and weapons of

ran the country, and sought to destroy all records pertaining the Nephites. This up, A. D. 420 September 22, 1827, which time it was found by Joseph Smith, jun., he being directed thither by an angel of the Lord. following account of the discovery and translation of this record is extracted from tract Elder Pratt, at Edinburgh, in 1840, entitled, "Remarkable Visions," etc., to which our readers are referred for further "'How far below the surface these records were by Moroni, I am to say; but from the that had been fourteen years and that, too, the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude that they were some feet as the naturally wear, or in length of time; being placed toward the top of ground would not remove as much as at perhaps. Another would prevent a wearing of the in all probability, as soon as timber had to grow, the hill was covered, after the Nephites were destroyed, and the roots of would hold the surface: on this point, shall every to his own and form his own speculation.' But suffice it to say, 'a of sufficient depth was dug; at the bottom of this a of suitable size, upper surface being smooth; each was placed a large cement, into the edges this stone, were placed four others; their bottom edges in the cement, at first stone. The four last named, when placed formed a box; the corners, or where edges of the four came in contact, were also cemented so firmly, the moisture was prevented from entering. It is to be also, that the inner of the four erect or side stones was smooth. box sufficiently large admit a breastplate, as was used the ancients to chest, etc., the and
ran
the country, and sought to dEstroy them And alL thE reCoRds pErtaIning
to the NephITes. THis record lay concealed, oR sealEd UP, froM a. D.
420 To SepTember 22, 1827, aT WhICH tiMe It Was FoUNd By Mr. JOsePh
Smith, Jun., he being DirEcTed thither by AN aNgel of the LOrd.

the following AccOunt of ThE diSCoverY anD tranSlatioN Of this Record
is eXtRActed fROm a tracT BY ELder orson Pratt, publishED aT
edinburgh, in 1840, entItled, "REmARkABLe VIsiOns," etc., to whIcH our
rEAders arE ReFERRed FOr further partIculars:--

"'How fAR beLow the SuRfaCE these RecorDs WEre Placed by MorOni, I Am
unable tO say; buT From the FAct that They haD beEn sOme fOUrTeEn
hUnDRed YEaRs bURieD, and that, ToO, oN the sIde oF A HILl so SteEp,
onE is reAdy to conclude ThaT theY WerE some Feet bElow, As The eaRth
wouLd natUrAlly wear, more or lEss, iN that lengTh oF tIme; BuT they
BEing plAceD toWard the Top of thE HilL, tHE GRoUnd would not remove
aS mUCH aS at two-thIrds, peRHaPs. aNother ciRcUmsTancE WOuld pReveNT
a Wearing oF the eaRTh; In All probAbIlity, aS sOon As tImber HAd tiMe
to grOw, the hilL was cOVered, after the NEPhites were desTRoYED, aND
the RooTs of the same WoulD Hold The sURfAce: HOweveR, on thIs POiNT,
I shall leave every maN tO draw hIs own Conclusion, and Form his own
SPECulation.' but sUFfICe it to say, 'a hole Of sufFicient depTH was
dug; aT the bOttom of tHis was laiD A Stone of sUitAblE siZe, tHE
UpPer surface beiNG SmooTh; At each eDge Was placEd a LarGe qUanTiTy
of cemenT, and into ThIs CeMeNt, aT the fOUr edges oF tHis StOne, Were
pLAced erEct foUr otHeRs; THeiR bottom EDgES RestInG iN the CemEnT, at
thE outER edGes of thE first stoNe. THE fouR lAsT named, wHen placed
erecT, fOrmed a box; tHe CorNers, or WHEre the edGes of the four came
in contaCT, were alSo cEmentEd so Firmly, thaT thE moistUre FRom
witHout waS prevEnTed FROm entERInG. It Is To be observED, AlsO, that
ThE innEr surfaCe of the four erect or SIde Stones was smooTh. THis
bOX WaS suFFiCIenTlY LarGE To admit a breastpLate, such as WaS UsEd by
the ancIEntS tO defend The chesT, etc., fROm the arRows and weApons of

ran
the country, and sough t to destr oy th emand  a ll t he r ecords pertain i ng
t o the Nephites. This r ecord  l a y co n ce aled,  or sea l ed u p,fr om  A.  D . 
4 20 to  Se ptember  22, 1827,  at  w hich time it wa s found by  Mr . Joseph
Smi th,  jun.,  h e b e ing d ire ctedthithe r  by an  angel of  t h e Lord . 

The f o l lo wing  account of the d i sc o very and trans lation  o f  t h i s r eco rd
is extr ac ted f r om a tr a ct b y  El d er Orson Prat t, publishe d  at 
Edinb ur gh, in 184 0, en ti t led , "Remarkab le V isions,"etc.,t o which our
rea ders a reref erre d  f or  fu rt h erp ar tic u lar s:--

"' Ho wfar b elow t h e  sur fac e th ese r ecords were p lac ed b y  Mo roni,  I am 
una bl e tosay; b ut fr om  the fact thatthey  had been  so me  fo ur teenh undred  ye ars  buried , and t h at,  t o o ,  o n the side of a hi ll s osteep,
o ne isr ea dy to concl ud e t hatt h ey we re s o me  feet be low, a s  t he  earthwo uld na tu ral lywear, more  or le ss, in t hat l e ngth of time;b ut they
being pl a c ed towa rdthe top oftheh ill,  the gr oun d  woul d not  r e mo v e
as much as at two -t hirds,  perh aps. Anothercircumstan c e would pr even t 
a wearing of the  eart h; in allp robabili ty, a s soon a s timberh a d time
t o g row , t heh i ll  was covered, a fter  t he Neph ite s weredes tro yed , a nd 
the root s of the  s am ewo uld  hold the surf ac e:ho wev er, o n  thispoint ,
Ish al l  le ave eve r ym a n to  d ra w hi s o wn  conc lusi o n,and for m his own 
sp e cula ti on .' Butsuffice it to  s ay, 'a hol eofsuffic i e nt depth  was
dug; at the bottom of this  wa s lai d astone ofsui tablesiz e , theuppersurfa ce  be i n g smo o t h;  at  e ach edge w a s  pl acedalarg e quant ity
of cement, and int o this cement , a t th e fo ure dg e s o ft his s tone, were
plac ed erect f ou r  o thers; the i r b ot tom edg es rest ing i n  the ce ment, atthe outer  e dges o f t he first s tone. Th e four la s t nam e d,  when  pl aced
e re ct,  form ed a b o x;the c orners ,or whe re th eedges of  the four came
in conta ct, we re al socementedsof irm ly, thatthemoisture f rom 
wi thout  wa s  prev ente d  f rom enter ing. It is tob eobs e r ve d, also, th a t the  inne r s u rfaceof t he four erect ors ide stones was  smo o t h.Thi s 
box  w as sufficientl y l ar g e  to admi ta breastpla te, such  a s  wasused b y
theancient s to defend  the  ch est, etc. , f ro m  the ar ro ws and we apon sof

ran
the country,_and sought_to destroy them and_all the_records_pertaining
to the_Nephites._This record lay_concealed, or sealed_up, from A. D.
420_to September 22,_1827,_at which time it was found by Mr. Joseph
Smith, jun., he being directed thither_by_an angel_of_the_Lord.

The following account of the_discovery and translation of this_record
is extracted_from a tract by Elder Orson Pratt, published_at
Edinburgh,_in 1840, entitled,_"Remarkable Visions," etc., to which our
readers are referred for_further particulars:--

"'How far below the surface_these records were_placed_by_Moroni, I am
unable to_say; but from the fact that_they had been some fourteen
hundred years_buried, and that, too, on the side_of a hill so steep,
one is_ready to conclude that they_were some_feet below, as the earth
would_naturally wear, more_or less,_in that length_of time; but they
being placed toward_the top of_the hill, the ground would not_remove
as_much as at_two-thirds,_perhaps._Another circumstance_would prevent
a wearing_of_the earth;_in_all probability, as soon as timber_had_time
to grow, the hill was covered, after_the Nephites were destroyed,_and
the_roots of the same_would hold the surface: however,_on this point,
I shall leave every_man to_draw his_own conclusion, and form his own
speculation.' But suffice it to say,_'a hole of sufficient depth was
dug;_at the bottom of_this was_laid_a stone of_suitable_size, the
upper_surface being smooth; at each edge was_placed a_large quantity
of cement, and into this_cement, at the four_edges_of this stone, were
placed erect four_others; their bottom edges resting in_the cement, at
the outer edges_of_the_first stone. The four last_named, when placed
erect, formed a box;_the corners, or_where the edges of the four came
in_contact,_were also cemented so firmly, that_the_moisture from
without was prevented from entering._It_is_to be observed, also, that
the_inner surface of the four erect_or side stones was smooth. This
box was sufficiently large_to admit a_breastplate, such as was used_by
the_ancients_to defend the chest, etc., from the arrows and weapons_of
