The Wentworth Letter | Page 2

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 covenant which God made with ancient Israel
was at hand to be fulfilled, that the preparatory work for the second
coming of the Messiah was speedily to 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.
I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this
country [America], and shown who they were, and from whence they
came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws,
governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of
God being finally withdrawn from them as a people was made known
unto me: I was also told where there was deposited some plates on
which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient

prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me
three times the same night and unfolded 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.
These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of
gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long and not quite
so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian
characters and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book with
three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near
six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on
the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole
book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much
skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious
instrument which the ancients called "Urim and Thummim," which
consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a
breastplate.
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. We are informed by these records that
America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of
people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the
Tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of
Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were
principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were
destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who
succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation
of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century.
The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book
also tells us that our Savior made his appearance upon this continent
after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness,
and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood,

the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings, as was enjoyed on
the eastern continent, that the people were cut off in consequence of
their transgressions, that the last of their prophets who existed among
them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies,
history, &c., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should come forth
and be united with the bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of
God in the last days. For a more particular account I would refer to the
Book of Mormon, which can be purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of
our travelling elders.
As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false reports,
misrepresentation, and slander flew as on the wings of the wind in
every direction, the house was frequently beset by mobs, and evil
designing people, several times I was shot at, and very narrowly
escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates away from
me, but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several began
to believe my testimony.
On the 6th of April, 1830, the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day