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Account of Joseph Smith obtaining the gold plates by Willard Chase:
In the month of June, 1827,
Joseph Smith, Sen., related to me the following story: "That some years ago, a
spirit had appeared to Joseph his son, in a vision, and informed him that in a
certain place there was a record on plates of gold, and that he was the person
that must obtain them, and this he must do in the following manner: On the 22d
of September, he must repair to the place where was deposited this manuscript,
dressed in black clothes, and riding a black horse with a switch tail, and
demand the book in a certain name, and after obtaining it, he must go directly
away, and neither lay it down nor look behind him. They accordingly fitted out
Joseph with a suit of black clothes and borrowed a black horse. He repaired to
the place of deposit and demanded the book, which was in a stone box, unsealed,
and so near the top of the ground that he could see one end of it, and raising
it up, took out the book of gold; but fearing some one might discover where he
got it, he laid it down to place back the top stone, as he found it; and turning
round, to his surprise there was no book in sight. He again opened the box, and
in it saw the book, and attempted to take it out, but was hindered. He saw in
the box something like a toad, which soon assumed the appearance of a man, and
struck him on the side of his head. -- Not being discouraged at trifles, he
again stooped down and strove to take the book, when the spirit struck him
again, and knocked him three or four rods, and hurt him prodigiously. After
recovering from his fright, he enquired why he could not obtain the plates; to
which the spirit made reply, because you have not obeyed your orders. He then
enquired when he could have them, and was answered thus: come one year from this
day, and bring with you your oldest brother, and you shall have them. This
spirit, he said
MORMONISM. 243
was the spirit of the prophet who wrote this book, and
who was sent to Joseph Smith, to make known these things to him. Before the
expiration of the year, his oldest brother died; which the old man said was an
accidental providence!
Joseph went one year from that day, to demand the
book, and the spirit enquired for his brother, and he said that he was dead. The
spirit then commanded him to come again, in just one year, and bring a man with
him. On asking who might be the man, he was answered that he would know him when
he saw him.
Joseph believed that one Samuel T. Lawrence was the
man alluded to by the spirit, and went with him to a singular looking hill, in
Manchester, and shewed him where the treasure was. Lawrence asked him if he had
ever discovered any thing with the plates of gold; he said no: he then asked him
to look in his stone, to see if there was any thing with them. He looked, and
said there was nothing; he told him to look again, and see if there was not a
large pair of specks with the plates; he looked and soon saw a pair of
spectacles, the same with which Joseph says he translated the Book of Mormon.
Lawrence told him it would not be prudent to let these plates be seen for about
two years, as it would make a great disturbance in the neighborhood. Not long
after this, Joseph altered his mind, and said L. was not the right man, nor had
he told him the right place. About this time he went to Harmony in Pennsylvania,
and formed an acquaintance with a young lady, by the name of Emma Hale, whom he
wished to marry. -- In the fall of 1826, he wanted to go to Pennsylvania to be
married; but being destitute of means, he now set his wits to work, how he
should raise money, and get recommendations, to procure the fair one of his
choice. He went to Lawrence with the following story, as related to me by
Lawrence himself. That he had discovered in Pennsylvania,
244 MORMONISM.
on the bank of the Susquehannah River, a very rich
mine of silver, and if he would go there with him, he might have a share in the
profits; that it was near high water mark and that they could load it into boats
and take it down the river to Philadelphia, to market. Lawrence then asked
Joseph if he was not deceiving him; no, said he, for I have been there and seen
it with my own eyes, and if you do not find it so when we get there, I will bind
myself to be your servant for three years. By these grave and fair promises
Lawrence was induced to believe something in it, and agreed to go with him. L.
soon found that Joseph was out of money, and had to bear his expenses on the
way. When they got to Pennsylvania, Joseph wanted L. to recommend him to Miss
H., which he did, although he was asked to do it; but could not well get rid of
it as he was in his company. L. then wished to see the silver mine, and he and
Joseph went to the river, and made search, but found nothing. Thus, Lawrence had
his trouble for his pains, and returned home lighter than he went, while Joseph
had got his expenses borne, and a recommendation to his girl.
Joseph's next move was to get married; the girl's
parents being opposed to the match: as they happened to be from home, he took
advantage of the opportunity, and went off with her and was married.
Now, being still destitute of money, he set his wits
at work, how he should get back to Manchester, his place of residence; he hit
upon the following plan, which succeeded very well. He went to an honest old
Dutchman, by the name of Stowel, and told him that he had discovered on the bank
of Black River, in the village of Watertown, Jefferson County, N.Y. a cave, in
which he had found a bar of gold, as big as his leg, and about three or four
feet long. --That he could not get it out alone, on account of its being fast at
one end; and if he would move him to Manchester,
MORMONISM. 245
N.Y. they would go together, and take a chisel and
mallet, and get it, and Stowel should share the prize with him. Stowel moved
him.
A short time after their arrival at Manchester, Stowel
reminded Joseph of his promise; but he calmly replied, that he would not go,
because his wife was now among strangers, and would be very lonesome if he went
away. Mr. Stowel was then obliged to return without any gold, and with less
money than he came.
In the fore part of September, (I believe,) 1827, the
Prophet requested me to make him a chest, informing me that he designed to move
back to Pennsylvania, and expecting soon to get his gold book, he wanted a chest
to lock it up, giving me to understand at the same time, that if I would make
the chest he would give me a share in the book. I told him my business was such
that I could not make it: but if he would bring the book to me, I would lock it
up for him. He said that would not do, as he was commanded to keep it two years,
without letting it come to the eye of any one but himself. This commandment,
however, he did not keep, for in less than two years, twelve men said they had
seen it. I told him to get it and convince me of its existence, and I would make
him a chest; but he said, that would not do, as he must have a chest to lock the
book in, as soon as he took it out of the ground. I saw him a few days after,
when he told me that I must make the chest. I told him plainly that I could not,
upon which he told me that I could have no share in the book.
A few weeks after this conversation, he came to my
house, and related the following story: That on the 22d of September, he arose
early in the morning, and took a one horse wagon, of some one that had stayed
over night at their house, without leave or license; and, together with his
wife, repaired to the hill which contained the book. He left his
246 MORMONISM.
wife in the wagon, by the road, and went alone to the
hill, a distance of thirty or forty rods from the road; he said he then took the
book out of the ground and hid it in a tree top, and returned home. He then went
to the town of Macedon to work. After about ten days, it having been suggested
that some one had got his book, his wife went after him; he hired a horse, and
went home in the afternoon, staid long enough to drink one cup of tea, and then
went for his book, found it safe, took off his frock, wrapt it round it, put it
under his arm and run all the way home, a distance of about two miles. He said
he should think it would weigh sixty pounds, and was sure it would weigh forty.
On his return home, he said he was attacked by two men in the woods, and knocked
them both down and made his escape, arrived safe and secured his treasure. -- He
then observed that if it had not been for that stone, (which he acknowledged
belonged to me,) he would not have obtained the book. A few days afterwards, he
told one of my neighbors that he had not got any such book, nor never had such
an one; but that he had told the story to deceive the d---d fool, (meaning me,)
to get him to make a chest. His neighbors having become disgusted with his
foolish stories, he determined to go back to Pennsylvania, to avoid what he
called persecution. His wits were now put to the task to contrive how he should
get money to bear his expenses. He met one day in the streets of Palmyra, a rich
man, whose name was Martin Harris, and addressed him thus; "I have a commandment
from God to ask the first man I meet in the street to give me fifty dollars, to
assist me in doing the work of the Lord by translating the Golden Bible." Martin
being naturally a credulous man, hands Joseph the money. In the Spring 1829,
Harris went to Pennsylvania, and on his return to Palmyra, reported that the
Prophet's wife, in the month of
MORMONISM. 247
June following would be delivered of a male child that
would be able when two years old to translate the Gold Bible. Then, said he, you
will see Joseph Smith, Jr. walking through the streets of Palmyra, with a Gold
Bible under his arm, and having a gold breast-plate on, and a gold sword hanging
by his side. This, however, by the by, proved false.
In April, 1830, I again asked Hiram for the stone
which he had borrowed of me; he told me I should not have it, for Joseph made
use of it in translating his Bible. I reminded him of his promise, and that he
had pledged his honor to return it; but he gave me the lie, saying the stone was
not mine nor never was. Harris at the same time flew in a rage, took me by the
collar and said I was a liar, and he could prove it by twelve witnesses. After I
had extricated myself from him, Hiram, in a rage shook his fist at me, and
abused me in a most scandalous manner. Thus I might proceed in describing the
character of these High Priests, by relating one transaction after another,
which would all tend to set them in the same light in which they were regarded
by their neighbors, viz: as a pest to society. I have regarded Joseph Smith Jr.
from the time I first became acquainted with him until he left this part of the
country, as a man whose word could not be depended upon. -- Hiram's character
was but very little better. What I have said respecting the characters of these
men, will apply to the whole family. What I have stated relative to the
characters of these individuals, thus far, is wholly true. After they became
thorough Mormons, their conduct was more disgraceful than before. They did not
hesitate to abuse any man, no matter how fair his character, provided he did not
embrace their creed. Their tongues were continually employed in spreading
scandal and abuse. Although they left this part of the country without paying
their just
248 MORMONISM.
debts, yet their creditors were glad to have them do
so, rather than to have them stay, disturbing the neighborhood.
Signed, WILLARD CHASE.
On the 11th December, 1833, the said Willard Chase
appeared before me, and made oath that the foregoing statement to which he has
subscribed his name, is true, according to his best recollection and belief.
FRED'K. SMITH,
Justice of the Peace of Wayne County.
Also see:
• Joseph Smith Money Digging Accounts
• Enchantment — Magic and Money Digging
