A Young Folks History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Page 5

resurrected with an immortal body--it is interesting
to know how he looked.
Joseph describes him as a man having on a robe whiter than anything
he had ever seen. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little
above the wrists. His feet were also bare a little above the ankles. His
head and neck were also bare. Not only was his robe very white but his
whole person shone with great glory. The room was very light, but not
so bright as close around the angel's person.
The angel called Joseph by name, and said that he was a messenger
sent from God to him, and that his name was Moroni. He told Joseph
that God had a work for him to do, and because of this work, good and
evil would be spoken about his name in all nations. The angel then told
him of a record written on gold plates which were hidden in a hill not
far away. This record was a history of the peoples who had lived on this

continent, of whom the Indians were a part. With the plates was an
instrument called the Urim and Thummim, which God had prepared for
the translating of the records. After a time these things would be given
to Joseph, but he must take great care of them and show them to no one
except those to whom the Lord would direct. Then Moroni showed
Joseph, by a vision, the place, where the plates were hidden.
After giving much other instruction, the light in the room began to
gather in towards the person of the angel, leaving the room again in
darkness, except just around the heavenly visitor, who soon
disappeared in a shining path into heaven.
Three times that same night Moroni visited Joseph and told him nearly
the same things over again. About the plates Joseph was further told
that he would be tempted to get them for the purpose of getting rich, as
the plates were of great value; but he must not yield to that spirit as
they were sacred, and he must have no other purpose in view than to do
the will of God and build up his kingdom; otherwise he would not get
them. At the close of the third visit it was morning, and then Joseph
knew that he had been talking with the angel nearly all the night.
That morning Joseph went as usual with his father to work in the field,
but he was so weak that he could do but little. His father, seeing this,
told him to go home.
On the way, as he was climbing over a fence, Joseph fell helpless to the
ground. After that the first thing he knew was that some one was
calling him by name. Looking up he again saw the angel Moroni, who
once more told him all that he had related the night before. He then told
Joseph to go back to the field and tell his father of the vision and the
commandments which he had received.
Joseph obeyed at once, and went back and told all he had seen and
heard. His father believed all he said, and told Joseph to obey the angel,
as the teachings and commandments were surely from the Lord.
Topics.--1. Beginning of persecution. 2. Visit of the angel Moroni. 3.
What Moroni told Joseph.

Questions and Review.--1. What did people say of Joseph's first vision?
2. Why did people persecute a young boy like Joseph? 3. Name the date
of Moroni's visit. 4. What is an angel? (See Doc. and Cov. Sec. 129,
also Key to Theology, Chap. 12.) 5. Describe the Angel Moroni. 6.
Why did the angel repeat so often his instructions to Joseph? 7. How
old was Joseph at this time?
CHAPTER IV.
THE SACRED PLATES.
About two miles south of Joseph's home, in Manchester, is a large hill,
the highest in that part of the country. To this place Joseph went on the
morning after the angel's visit, as this was the spot he had seen in his
vision. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, Joseph found a
large, rounded stone, nearly covered with earth. Prying this up, he
found it to be the lid of a stone box which was buried in the earth.
Raising the lid, he looked in, and there indeed were the sacred treasures
about which the angel had told him. As he stood looking at them in
wonder, the angel Moroni came to his side, and Joseph was taught
many things about the future. He was shown in a vision the glory of the
good and the darkness of the evil.
[Illustration: THE HILL CUMORAH.]
Joseph was about to take the plates from the box,