62 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



was Moroni, who wrote the latter portion of the 

 book and concealed it where he, later, revealed its 

 resting place to Joseph Smith. 



Upon these books, as a new revelation. Smith 

 founded the Mormon church, the ^Thurch of the 

 Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ." 



Recognizing both the Old and New Testaments, 

 engrafting upon them the Book of Mormon, there 

 has grown up a great religious organization that, 

 today, numbers more than a half- million thrifty, 

 contented and happy people. Is it all a delusion? 



Of course, such a story could not but excite the 

 ridicule and derision of the many, but it found 

 converts and followers among the few. Steadily, 

 if slowly, its numbers grew and everywhere its 

 members were persecuted. Understand there was 

 nothing of polygamy in the earlier history of the 

 Church. This doctrine was never sanctioned 

 publicly till after the expulsion from Nauvoo, 

 although, shortly before his death, it had been 

 given out privately by Smith and practiced by 

 him and others in the Church. 



