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DEFENSE OF THE FAITH

AND THE SAINTS


BY

B. H. ROBERTS

AUTHOR OF

"The Gospel"

"Outlines of Ecclesiastical History"

"New Witness for God"

"Mormon Doctrine of Deity"

Etc., Etc.

VOLUME II.


Salt Lake City

1912



GENERAL FOREWORD

No word of Preface is necessary to this Volume, except to say that
in presenting it to his readers, the author feels that that he is
fulfilling a promise made to them when Volume I of the series was
issued.

A word of explanation will be found as an introduction to each
subdivision of the book, which excludes the necessity of making any
reference to such subdivisions in this General Forward.

THE AUTHOR.

Salt Lake City, January, 1912.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL FOREWORD


Part I.

ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Schroeder-Roberts' Debate.

Foreword.

The Appearing of Moroni.

The Book of Mormon.

Description of the Nephite Record.

THE ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

By Theodore Schroeder.

I.

Solomon Spaulding and his first manuscript.

Spaulding's rewritten manuscript.

Erroneous theories examined.

II.

How about Sidney Rigdon?

Rigdon's prior religious dishonesty.

Rigdon had opportunity to steal the manuscript.

Rigdon's only denial analyzed.

Rigdon and Lambdin in 1815.

Rigdon exhibits Spaulding's manuscript.

Rigdon foreknows the coming and contents of the Book of Mormon.

III.

From Rigdon to Smith via P. P. Pratt.

Rigdon visits Smith before Mormonism.

The conversion of Parley P. Pratt.

Rigdon's miraculous conversion.

The plagiarism clinched.

IV.

For the love of gold, not God.

Concluding comment.

THE ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

By Brigham H. Roberts.

I.

Justifications for replying to Mr. Schroeder.

Preliminary considerations.

Various classes of witnesses.

Conflicting theories of origin.

Mr. Schroeder's statement of his case.

The facts of the Spaulding manuscript.

The task of the present writer.

The enemies of the Prophet.

"Dr." Philastus Hurlburt.

Rev. Adamson Bently, et al.

II.

The "second" Spaulding manuscript.

The failure of Howe's book.

The Conneaut witnesses.

E. D. Howe discredited as a witness.

The Davidson statement.

Alleged statement of Mrs. Davidson, formerly the wife of Solomon
Spaulding.

The Haven-Davidson interview.

Mrs. Ellen E. Dickinson's repudiation of the Davidson statement.

Reverend John A. Clark and the Davidson statement.

Mutilation of the Haven-Davidson interview.

Mr. Schroeder and the Davidson statement.

Why Mr. Schroeder discredits the Spaulding witnesses.

III.

The connection of Sidney Rigdon with the Spaulding manuscript.

Of Rigdon's alleged "religious dishonesty."

Rigdon's opportunity to steal Spaulding's manuscript.

Did Rigdon exhibit the Spaulding manuscript.

Did Rigdon foreknown the coming and contents of the Book of Mormon?

Alexander Campbell and the Book of Mormon in 1831.

IV.

"The Angel of the Prairies."

The supposed meetings of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon before the
publication of the Book of Mormon.

Of the conversion of Pratt and Rigdon.

The denials of Rigdon.

The real origin of the Spaulding theory.

The motive for publishing the Book of Mormon.

Concluding remarks.


Part II.

RECENT DISCUSSION OF MORMON AFFAIRS.

Foreword.

I.

AN ADDRESS.

By the Presidency of the Church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the world.

II.

REVIEW OF ADDRESS TO THE WORLD.

By the Ministerial Association.

Foreword.

Review.

III.

ANSWER TO MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION'S REVIEW.

By B. H. Roberts.

Foreword.

Answer.


Part III.

JOSEPH SMITH'S DOCTRINES VINDICATED.

Foreword.

I.

THE FIRST MESSAGE OF MORMONISM VINDICATED.

Joseph Smith's first vision.

"Creeds are an abomination."

God's first message confirmed.

Reform in Protestantism.

What Mormonism affirms.

Immortality of man.

II.

OTHER DOCTRINES OF JOSEPH SMITH VINDICATED BY THE COLLEGES.

I. Men the Avatars of God.

II. The Existence of a Plurality of Divine Intelligences--Gods.


Part IV.

MISCELLANEOUS DISCOURSES.

I.

THE SPIRIT OF MORMONISM; A SLANDER REFUTED.

Introductory.

People judged by their laws.

The calling of Sidney Rigdon.

A few days with the Prophet--Prayerfulness.

Woman's place in Mormonism.

God's Herald of the Resurrection and Human Brotherhood--Woman.

Unjust criticism answered.

By their works they shall be judged.

II.

ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS--SOME THINGS THEY DO
NOT BELIEVE.

Catholic belief.

Faith in the Godhead.

Erroneous reports.

Revelation quoted.

Belief in revelation.

Inspired utterances.

Revealed word.

God's word is Truth.

Testimony borne.

III.

THE THINGS OF GOD GREATER THAN MAN'S CONCEPTION OF THEM.

Divine things misjudged.

Marvelous work and a wonder.

The New Jerusalem.

Restoration of Israel.

Lost tribes in the north.

Israel now gathering.

Purposes of God will not fail.

IV.

MORMONISM AS A BODY OF DOCTRINE.

Introductory.

Mormon view of the universe.

Philosophy of Mormonism.

Source of moral evil.

The place and mission of Christ in Mormon doctrine.

V.

PEACE.

The blessedness of peace.

The God of Battles.

Justice the basis of peace.

VI