HIS DISCOVERY OF THE PLATES. 195 



slonal ecstasieSj and that in 1823, during one of these 

 ecstasies, he was visited by an angel, who told him that 

 his sins were forgiven — that the time was at hand when 

 the gospel in its fulness was to be preached to all 

 nations — that the American Indians were a remnant of 

 Israel, who, when they first emigrated to America, were 

 an enlightened people, possessing a knowledge of the 

 true God, and enjoying his favour — that the prophets 

 and inspired writers among them had kept a history 

 or record of their proceedings — that these records were 

 safely deposited — and that, if faithful, he was to be the 

 favoured instrument for bringing them to light. 



On the following day, according to instructions from 

 the angel, he went to a hill which he calls Cumorah, in 

 Palmyra township, Wayne County, and there, in a stone 

 chest, after a little digging, he saw the records ; but it 

 was not till four years after, in September 1827, that 

 " the angel of the Lord delivered the records into his 

 hands." 



" These records were engraved on plates which had 

 the appearance of gold, were seven by eight inches in 

 size, and thinner than common tin, and were covered on 

 both sides with Egyptian characters, small and beauti- 

 fully engraved. They were bound together in a volume 

 like the leaves of a book, and were fastened at one edge 

 with three rings running through the whole. The 

 volume was about six inches in thickness, bore many 

 marks of antiquity, and part of it was sealed. AVith the 

 records was found a curious instrument, called by the 

 ancients Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two 

 transparent stones, clear as crystal, and set in two rims 

 of a bow " — a pair of pebble spectacles, in other words, 

 or " helps to read" unknown tongues. 



The report of his discovery having got abroad, his 

 house was beset, he was mobbed, and his life was endan- 

 gered by persons who wished to possess themselves of 



