Articles of Faith

As I read the letter sent to John Wentworth, I was touched by a few comments by the Prophet Joseph Smith in this brief history of the rise of the Church.  As he described the experience with the initial visit of Moroni, he wrote -

“I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country 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progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known unto me; I was also told where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient Prophets that had existed on this continent..."

So from the initial visit of Moroni, the Prophet learned a great deal about the people and the record he would eventually translate.  His mother commented that the Prophet could describe even how this people dressed.  In my mind, this would suggest that this instruction was as much visionary as verbal.

The Prophet also commented which I don't believe was necessarily noted in his own history that -

"...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 22nd of September, AD 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands."

This would suggest to me that the Prophet received much more instruction and maybe even other visions from other messengers other than Moroni during this period.

One more powerful thought.  The Prophet wrote considerably in this letter of the tribulations, injustices, and persecution of the saints that had taken place to this point (see the letter).  But in conclusion the Prophet with all power of a true prophet of God declared -

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

I know this is true.