Hill Cumorah Manchester, New York, United States of America

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After the fall of the Nephite civilization, the Prophet Moroni hid up a record in the Hill Cumorah of his people written on plates to come forth “as one crying from the dust” more than 1400 years later, the Book of Mormon was translated and published.1 On the night of September 21-22, 1823, the angel Moroni appeared in vision to young Jo- seph Smith, Jr. and told him that

“There was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source The Hill Cumorah from whence they sprang. He also said that the Photo courtesy of David C. Wadsworth fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained only occupied for pasturage, its steep ascent and in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient narrow summit not admitting the plow of the inhabitants; husbandman, with any degree of ease or proﬁt. It was at the second mentioned place where the Also, that there were two stones in silver record was found to be deposited, on the west bows—and these stones, fastened to a breast- side of the hill, not far from the top down its plate, constituted what is called the Urim and side; and when myself visited the place in the Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the year 1830, there were several trees standing: possession and use of these stones were what enough to cause a shade in summer, but not constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; so much as to prevent the surface being covered and that God had prepared them for the pur- with grass which was also the case when the 2 pose of translating the book.” record was ﬁrst found.

Oliver Cowdery wrote a description of the Whatever may be the feeling of men on the re- hill in a letter to W. W. Phelps which was published flection of past acts which have been performed in the Messenger and Advocate in October of on certain portions or spots of this earth, I 1835: know not, neither does it add or diminish to nor from the reality of my subject. When Mo- “The hill of which I have been speaking, at the ses heard the voice of god, at the foot of Horeb, time mentioned, presented a varied appearance: out of the burning bush, he was commanded the north end rose suddenly from the plain, to take his shoes off his feet, for the ground forming a promontory without timber, but cov- on which he stood was holy. The same may be ered with grass. As you passed to the south you observed when Joshua beheld the ‘Captain of soon came to scattering timber, the surface hav- the Lord’s host’ by Jerico.—And I confess that ing been cleared by art or by wind; and a short my mind was filled with many reflections; and distance further left, you are surrounded with though I did not then loose my shoe, yet with the common forest of the country. It is neces- gratitude to God did I offer up the sacrifice of sary to observe, that even the part cleared was my heart.” 3 2 Hill Cumorah, Manchester, New York, United States of America

Joseph visited the location of the plates on This is an incident in the life of Oliver September 22 for each of the next four years after Cowdery, but he did not take the liberty of telling Moroni’s initial appearance, where he received in- such things in meeting as I take. I tell these things struction from Moroni and eventually received the to you, and I have a motive for doing so. I want to plates in 1827. After the translation of the Book carry them to the ears of my brethren and sisters, of Mormon was completed, Joseph returned the and to the children also, that they may grow to an plates to Moroni. An account of the event was understanding of some things that seem to be en- given by Brigham Young. tirely hidden from the human family. A monument of the Angel Moroni was Oliver Cowdery went with the Prophet Jo- erected at the Hill Cumorah and was dedicated by seph when he deposited these plates. Joseph did President Heber J. Grant in 1935. not translate all of the plates; there was a portion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- of them sealed, which you can learn from the Book day Saints has hosted the Hill Cumorah Pag- of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got the eant: “America’s Witness for Christ” near the Hill plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back Cumorah since 1937. It is performed by volunteers to the hill Cumorah, which he did. and portrays Lehi and his family leaving Jerusalem Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver in 600 B.C. being guided to what is now the Ameri- went there, the hill opened, and they walked into a can continent. cave, in which there was a large and spacious room. He says he did not think, at the time, whether they SOURCES had the light of the sun or artiﬁcial light; but that it was just as light as day. They laid the plates on a 1 See 2 Nephi 33:13. table; it was a large table that stood in the room. 2 Joseph Smith History 1:34-35. Under this table there was a pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in this 3 Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 13, (October 1835). room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they were piled up in the corners and along the walls. The ﬁrst time they went there the sword Brigham Young’s Description of of Laban hung upon the wall; but when they went the Hill Cumorah1 again it had been taken down and laid upon the table across the gold plates; it was unsheathed, and on it was written these words: ‘This sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this “Orin P. Rockwell is an eye-witness to some pow- world become the kingdom of our God and his ers of removing the treasures of the earth. He was Christ.’ with certain parties that lived near by where the I tell you this as coming not only from Oli- plates were found that contain the records of the ver Cowdery, but others who were familiar with Book of Mormon. There were a great many trea- it, and who understood it just as well as we un- sures hid up by the Nephites. . . . derstand coming to this meeting, enjoying the day, I lived right in the country where the plates and by and by we separate and go away, forget- were found from which the Book of Mormon was ting most of what is said, but remembering some translated, and I know a great many things pertain- things. So is it with other circumstances in life. ing to that country. I believe I will take the liberty I relate this to you, and I want you to un- to tell you of another circumstance that will be as derstand it. I take this liberty of referring to those marvelous as anything can be. things so that they will not be forgotten and lost. Hill Cumorah, Manchester, New York, United States of America 3

Carlos Smith was a young man of as much verac- Thou didst allow Thy devoted and faithful proph- ity as any young man we had, and he was a witness et. Moroni, to visit the boy Joseph Smith, that to these things. Samuel Smith saw some things, Thou didst allow him for four long years to meet Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the prophet on this hill and instruct him regarding the leader. the principles of the gospel, and fit and prepare Now, you may think I am unwise in pub- him to stand at the head of Thy Church, again es- licly telling these things, thinking perhaps I should tablished upon the earth, the Church of Thy Son, preserve them in my own breast; but such is not Jesus Christ. my mind. I would like the people called Latter-day We are grateful, Father, for the delivery Saints to understand some little things with regard unto him of the plates, and that he was inspired of to the workings and dealings of the Lord with his Thee through the instrumentality of the urim and people here upon the earth. I could relate to you a thummim that was placed in his hands, to translate great many more, all of which are familiar to many the holy scripture as recorded in the Book of Mor- of our brethren and sisters.” mon. We are thankful, Heavenly Father, that as SOURCES the years come and go Thou hast seen fit to un- cover evidences regarding the divinity of the work 1 Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. (London: Latter-day Saints’ Book in which we are engaged. We thank Thee, Father, Depot, 1854-1886), 19: 37. that the claims that were made against the Book of Mormon, that it was false because there were no dwellings that had been erected of cement to be found upon this land and that therefore the book Dedicatory Prayer of the was false have been disproved. We are grateful that Angel Moroni Monument1 such dwellings have been discovered, that mounds are being uncovered, and that under those mounds, not far from the city of Mexico, splendid cement “God, our heavenly and eternal Father, the Maker dwellings have been found. of heaven and earth, the Father of Jesus Christ, the We are grateful for the radio, whereby the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, we ridicule of the statement in the Book of Mormon thank Thee that Thou hast again seen fit to restore that the voice of Jesus was heard all over the land, to the earth the plan of life and salvation, whereby can be successfully met. This statement was ridi- men and women, through obedience to the laws culed because it was thought that the human voice that Thou hast revealed, can come back into Thy carried only a few hundred feet, but today through presence and dwell with Thee forever. the discovery of the radio the voice can be heard O Father, we thank Thee from the bottom around the world. of our hearts that Thou didst see fit to reveal Thy- We are grateful that the ridicule of that part self and Thy Son to the boy, Joseph Smith. We of the Book of Mormon which says that there thank Thee that we have no doubt in our minds were horses upon this continent has been satisfac- regarding Thy personality, that in very deed Thou torily answered. It was thought that because there didst declare to all the world by Thy personal visi- were no horses to be found here when Columbus tation and the visitation of Thy Son, that man was arrived, that statement was untrue, but skeletons created in the image of his Maker. of horses and other animals have been dug out of We thank Thee, oh Father, in heaven, that the oil wells in California. We are thankful for the hundreds and thou- 4 Hill Cumorah, Manchester, New York, United States of America sands of special manifestations that have been giv- Thou didst preserve the lives of these men, and en to individuals, yes even millions of manifesta- that one of the greatest of all the great revelations tions, as to the divinity of the Book of Mormon. that have come to Thy people was given to the We are grateful oh Father, that Thou didst Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty jail shortly after allow John the Baptist who held the Aaronic Priest- this decree of his death had been made. hood, the power and authority to baptize the Sav- We pray that whenever we read that mar- ior, to appear to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, velous and wonderful revelation the inspiration of and that he did bestow upon them this priesthood, the living God may be given to us, that we may and this power. Our hearts go out in gratitude that keep the commandments of the Lord. the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter, James, We are grateful, Father, that notwithstand- and John, came to the earth, laid their hands upon ing the expulsion of our people from Missouri the heads of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Thou didst bless and prosper them, and that they Cowdery and restored the higher or Melchizedek built a magnificent temple in Nauvoo, and that a Priesthood, and the apostleship that was not upon great city was established there, one of the most the earth. prosperous and in fact the largest city, if I am not We humbly pray unto Thee that those of in error, in the entire state of Illinois. us who have received the ordinance of baptism, But through the animosity and the hatred those of us who have been ordained to the high- and the falsehoods of people, again the Latter-day er priesthood, and all of those that have received Saints were driven, and they traveled 1500 miles a testimony of the divinity of the work that has out into the desert country to the Salt Lake Valley. been established—we humbly pray that Thou wilt We are grateful for the preservation of the help us to so live that our lives may proclaim the people. We are grateful that a prophecy has been divinity of the work in which we are engaged. fulfilled which was uttered just before his martyr- We are thankful for the organization of dom by the Prophet Joseph Smith, on the west Thy Church and for its wonderful growth. We are bank of the Missouri river. grateful beyond expression that notwithstanding ‘I prophesy,’ he said, ‘that the saints will the opposition and the lying statements that were continue to suffer much persecution, that many sent out here in the state of New York and the will be put to death by our persecutors, others will persecutions of the people which made it neces- lose their lives in consequence of exposure and sary to move to Ohio, the then frontier, that yet disease, but, some of you shall live to go and build Thy people prospered and that the numbers grew cities and settlements, and see the Saints become in the Church a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Moun- We are thankful that notwithstanding the tains.’ opposition that was so great in Ohio that the peo- We are grateful that they have become ple moved to Missouri, still Thou didst see fit to a mighty people. From Canada on the north to prosper the people, and that Thou didst touch the Mexico on the south. We have 112 stakes of Zion, hearts of people and they embraced the gospel and Thy spirit and Thy blessing have attended the notwithstanding these persecutions. men and the women who have been appointed to We are thankful beyond all the power preside in these stakes and who have been called which Thou hast given us with which to express to preside over the various quorums of the priest- our thoughts that notwithstanding an exterminat- hood, and over the Relief Society, the Sunday ing order of the governor of the state of Missouri, Schools, the Primaries, and the Young Men’s and that notwithstanding Joseph Smith and others had Young Women’s Associations. been sentenced to be shot the following morning, We are grateful that in the far-off land of Hill Cumorah, Manchester, New York, United States of America 5

Hawaii a stake of Zion has been organized. Thy the name of our Redeemer, we dedicate unto Thee people have in every way become a great and a at this time this monument that has been erected mighty people, fulfilling the prophecy of the upon this sacred hill. Prophet Joseph Smith on the west bank of the We dedicate the hill itself and the ground Mississippi river. surrounding it and all of the materials that have We are truly grateful unto Thee, our Heav- been used in this monument; and we humbly pray enly Father, for the hospitality of the people in unto Thee that it may be preserved from the ele- this section of the country. We are grateful that ments, and that it may stand here as a testimony of the spirit of opposition has disappeared. We are God, of Jesus Christ, and of the dealings of Jesus thankful that the reputation of Thy people has Christ with the people that lived anciently upon changed and that today from New York to San this continent. Francisco, from Canada to Mexico, to be known These things we do in humility, in gratitude, as a Latter-day Saint living the Gospel, is of great and in thanksgiving to Thee, by the authority of value. the priesthood of God, and in the name of Jesus The reputation of the Savior was such that Christ. Amen.” He was crucified but after He has been dead for nearly 2,000 years men are beginning to find that SOURCES His teachings were for the benefit of every living soul, not only in this life, but if lived, will bring 1 Improvement Era, Vol. 38, No. 9, (September 1935). exaltation in the life to come. We are grateful that no one can find fault with the teachings of the Latter-day Saints, that our religion is in absolute harmony with the teach- Visitor Information ing of the Bible. We are thankful O Father, for these things and we humbly pray unto Thee that our minds may never become darkened, that we may never depart from the truth, that we may nev- Address: er break any of the covenants that we have made 603 State Route 21 with Thee; but that as we grow in years and in- Palmyra, New York 14522 crease in understanding we may grow in the light, knowledge, and testimony of the Divinity of the Hours of Operation: Gospel of Jesus Christ that we have espoused. November - March May we ever be faithful to the command- • Monday through Saturday ments in Holy Writ. May we ever remember the • 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM teachings of the Savior while here upon the earth • Sunday among the Nephites, after His resurrection, and • 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM His teachings to His followers and apostles upon the other continent. We humbly pray, O Father, April - May that Thy spirit shall ever abide with us. • Monday through Saturday We are thankful above all things for the res- • 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM toration to the earth of the priesthood, the power • Sunday to minister in the name of Thine only Begotten • 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Son, which has been given to us of Thee, and by the authority of that priesthood, O, Father, and in 6 Hill Cumorah, Manchester, New York, United States of America

June - August • Monday through Saturday • 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM • Sunday • 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM September - October • Monday through Saturday • 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM • Sunday • 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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