[All-American]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

I know this isn't your point, but my first thought in reading this is, "how in the world did the same mind who recorded this produce the Book of Mormon?"

Thanks for posting this. I've been meaning for a long time to put down the three accounts and read them side-by-side but haven't gotten around to it.

Let's see if it sounds any better with punctuation and a little editing:

A History of the life of Joseph Smith, Jr.

An account of his marvelous experience and of all the mighty acts which he does in the name of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, of whom he beareth record, and also an account of the rise of the church of Christ in the eve of time, as the Lord brought forth and established by his hand.

First, he received the testimony from on high; second, the ministering of Angels; third, the reception of the holy Priesthood by the ministering of angels to administer the letter of the Gospel (the Law and commandments as they were given unto him) and the ordinances; fourth, a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God, power and ordinance from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit, the Keys of the Kingdom of God which were conferred upon him; and the continuation of the blessings of God to him, etc.

I was born in the town of Charon in the State Of Vermont North America on the twenty third day of December, A D 1805, of goodly Parents who spared no pains to instruct me in the Christian religion. At the age of about ten years, my Father, Joseph Smith, Senior, moved to Palmyra, Ontario County in the State of New York, and being in indigent circumstances, we were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large family (having nine children). As it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family, we were accordingly deprived of the benefit of an education. Suffice it to say I was merely instructed in reading, writing, and the ground rules of arithmetic, which constituted my whole literary acquirements.

At about the age of twelve years my mind became seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures, believing (as I was taught) that they contained the word of God, thus applying myself to them. My intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly, as I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository.

This was a grief to my soul; thus, from the age of twelve years to fifteen, I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind: the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind. My mind become exceedingly distressed, for I became convicted of my sins. By searching the scriptures, I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith, and there was no society or denomination that built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament.

I felt to mourn for my own sins, and for the sins of the world, for I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday, today, and forever; that he was no respecter to persons, for he was God. I looked upon the sun, the glorious luminary of the earth; and also the moon, rolling in their majesty through the heavens; and also the stars, shining in their courses; and also the earth upon which I stood; and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven, and the fish of the waters; and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty, whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceedingly great and marvelous even in the likeness of him who created them. And when I considered these things, my heart exclaimed, "Well hath the wise man said that it is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God." My heart exclaimed, "All these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power, a being who makes laws, and decrees and binds all things in their bounds, who fills eternity; who was, and is, and will be from all Eternity to Eternity."

Sorry, out of time. Gotta run. But what does that do to our general impression of the man? I did nothing more to the text than EB Grandin would have done to the Book of Mormon.