Chapter IX (4)

I had proposed to write a chapter similar to this upon the Mormon annals. After sundry attempts, the idea was abandoned in despair. It would be necessary to give two distinct or rather opposite versions--according to the Mormons and the anti-Mormons--of every motive and action which have engendered and produced history. Such a style would not be lively. Moreover, the excessive positivism with which each side maintains its facts, and the palpable sacrifice of truth to party feeling, would make it impossible for any but an eye-witness, who had lived through the scenes, and had preserved his impartiality, to separate the wheat from the chaff. The Mormons declare that if they knew their prophet to be an impostor, they could still love, respect, and follow him in this life to the next. The Gentiles, I can see, would not accept him, even if he were proposed to them by a spirit from the other world. There is little inducement in this case to break the scriptural injunction, “Judge not.”

Under these considerations, I have added to the Appendix (No. V.) a detailed chronological table of Mormon events: it is compiled from both parties, and has at least one merit--impartiality.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF MORMON.

[MORMON CHRONOLOGY.]

(_By Elder James Marsden, and printed in the Compendium of Faith and Doctrines._)

B.C.

600. Lehi, Sariah, and their four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and
Nephi, left Jerusalem by the commandment of God, and journeyed into
the wilderness of Arabia (p. 17, 44, 97, pars. 3, 47, 4).

592. Lehi and his family arrived at the land Bountiful, so called
because of its much fruit. Its modern name is Arabia Felix, or Arabia
the Happy (p. 36, par. 17).

570. Jacob and Joseph were consecrated priests and teachers over the
people of Nephi (p. 66, par. 5).

560. Nephi was commanded to make a second volume of plates (p. 67,
par. 6).

545. Nephi commanded Jacob to write on the small plates such things
as he considered most precious (p. 114, par. 1).

421. Jacob having committed the records into the hands of his son
Enos, and Enos being old, he gave the records into the hands of his
son Jarom (p. 133, 136, pars. 9, 7).

400. The people of Nephi kept the law of Moses, and they rapidly
increased in numbers, and were greatly prospered (p. 137, par. 3).

362. Jarom being old, delivered the records into the hands of his son
Omni (p. 138, par. 6).

324. Omni was a wicked man, but he defended the Nephites from their
enemies (p. 138, par. 2).

280. Amaron delivered the plates to his brother Chemish (p. 139, par.
3).

124. After Abinadom, the son of Chemish, Amaleki,[214] the son
of Abinadom, King Benjamin, and Mosiah had successively kept the
records, Mosiah, the son of King Benjamin, was consecrated king (p.
157, par. 2).

121. Mosiah sent sixteen men to the land of Lehi-Nephi to inquire concerning their brethren (p. 158, par. 2).

91. Mosiah died, having conferred the records upon Alma, who was the son of Alma. Mosiah also established a republican form of government, and appointed Alma the first and chief judge of the land (p. 205, 209, pars. 1, 7).

90. Nehor suffered an ignominious death for apostasy and for killing Gideon (p. 210, pars. 3, 4).

86. The usurper Amlici was slain by Alma. In this year many battles were fought between the Nephites on the one hand, and the Amlicites, who were Nephite revolutionists, and the Lamanites on the other. The Nephites were mostly victorious (p. 215, 217, pars. 14, 18).

85. Peace was restored and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon, and became members of the Church (p. 218, par. 1).

84. Peace continued, and three thousand five hundred became members of the Church of God (p. 218, par. 2).

83. The members of the Church became proud because of their great riches (p. 218, par. 3).

82. Alma delivered up the office of chief judge to Nephilah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood, after the holy order of God (p. 219, par. 5).

81. Alma performed a mission to the land of Melek, and to the City Ammonihah (p. 230, pars. 2, 3).

80. Alma and Amulek were delivered from prison by the mighty power of God (p. 251, par. 11).

79. The Lamanites destroyed the people of Ammonihah (p. 253, par. 2).

76. There was peace during three years, and the Church was greatly prospered (p. 254, par. 8).

75. Ammon performed a successful mission among the Lamanites (p. 288, par. 10).

73. Korihor, the great anti-Christ, made his appearance (p. 290, par. 2).

72. Alma committed the record to the keeping of his son Helaman, and commanded him to continue the history of his people (p. 310, par. 5).

71. The Nephites obtained a complete victory over the Lamanites in the borders of Manti (p. 331, par. 16).

71. Helaman performed a successful mission among the Nephites (p. 333, par. 4).

69. Moroni commanded that the Nephites should fortify all their cities. They also built many cities (p. 346, par. 1).

68. This was the most comfortable, prosperous, and happy year that the Nephites had ever seen (p. 348, par. 3).

65. The people of Morianton prevented from escaping to the North or Lake Country. Also Nephilah died, and his son Pahoran succeeded him as chief judge of the land (p. 348, pars. 5, 8).

64. A contention between the advocates of monarchy on the one hand, and of republicanism on the other, was peaceably settled by the voice of the people. But 4000 of the monarchy men were slain for refusing to take up arms in defense of their country against the Lamanites (p. 350, par. 3).

63. Preparations for war between the Nephites and the Lamanites were made (p. 354, par. 4).

62. The same continued (p. 355, par. 4).

61. Moroni retook the city of Melek, and obtained a complete victory over the Lamanites (p. 356, par. 12).

60. Moroni, by stratagem, overcame the Lamanites, and liberated his people from prison (p. 363, par. 7).

59. Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, of the city of Judea, in which is set forth the wonderful victories obtained in that part of the land over the Lamanites (p. 364, par. 1).

58. Moroni obtained possession of the city of Nephilah (p. 386, par. 18).

54. Peace having been restored, the Church became very prosperous, and Helaman died (p. 387, par. 3).

53. Shiblon took possession of the sacred records, and Moroni died (p. 387, pars. 1, 2).

52. 5400 men, with their wives and children, left Zarahemla for the North country (p. 388, par. 3).

50. Shiblon conferred the sacred records upon Helaman, the son of Helaman, and then died (p. 388, par. 5).

49. Pahoran, the chief judge, having died, his son Pahoran was appointed to succeed him. This Pahoran was murdered by Kishkumen, and his brother Pacumeni was appointed by his successor (p. 389, par. 3).

48. Coriantumr led a numerous host against Zarahemla, took the city, and killed Pacumeni; but Moronihah retook the city, slew Coriantumr, and obtained a complete victory over the Lamanites (p. 390, par. 5).

47. Helaman was appointed chief judge, and the band of Gadianton robbers was organized (p. 392, par. 8).

46. Peace reigned among the Nephites (p. 393, par. 1).

45. Peace continued (p. 393, par. 1).

44. Peace continued (p. 393, par. 1).

43. Great contention among the Nephites; many of them traveled northward (p. 394, par. 2).

36. Helaman died, and his son Nephi was appointed chief judge.

31. The Nephites, because of their wickedness, lost many of their cities, and many of them were slain by the Lamanites (p. 397, par. 8).

28. The Nephites repented at the preaching of Moronihah (p. 397, par. 10).

27. Moronihah could obtain no more possessions from the Lamanites. Nephi vacated the office of chief judge in favor of Cezoram (p. 398, 399, pars. 11, 13). The greater part of the Lamanites became a righteous people (p. 403, par. 25).

26. Nephi and Lehi went northward to preach unto the people (p. 404, par. 26).

23. Cezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat on the judgment-seat. His son, who was appointed to succeed him, was also murdered (p. 404, par. 28).

22. The Nephites became very wicked (p. 406, par. 31).

21. The Lamanites observed the laws of righteousness, and utterly destroyed the Gadianton robbers from among them (p. 406, par. 32).

20. Men belonging to the Gadianton band usurped the judgment-seat (p. 407, par. 1).

18. Nephi prophesied many important things against his people (p. 416, par. 15).

14. Three years’ famine brought the people to repentance, and caused them to destroy the Gadianton robbers (p. 417, pars. 2,3).

13. Peace being restored, the people spread themselves abroad, to repair their waste places (p. 418, par. 4).

12. The majority of the people, both Nephites and Lamanites, became members of the Church (p. 418, par. 4).

9. Certain dissenters among the Nephites stirred up the Lamanites against their brethren, and they revived the secrets of Gadianton (p. 419, par. 5).

5. The Lamanites prevailed against the Nephites, because of their great wickedness (p. 420, par. 7).

4. Samuel the Lamanite performed a mission among the Nephites (p. 422, par. 1).

1. Great signs and wonders were given unto the people, and the words of the Prophets began to be fulfilled (p. 431, par. 10).

Lachoneus was the chief judge and governor of the land. Nephi gave the records into the hands of his son Nephi (p. 432, par. 1).

The Lord revealed to Nephi that he would come into the world the next day, and many signs of his coming were given (p. 433, par. 3).

A.C.

3. The Gadianton robbers committed many depredations (p. 434, par. 6).

4. The Gadianton robbers greatly increased (p. 434, par. 6).

9. The Nephites began to reckon their time from the coming of Christ (p. 435, par. 8).

13. The Nephites were joined by many of the Lamanites in defense against the robbers, who had now become very numerous and formidable (p. 436, par. 9).

15. The Nephites were worsted in several engagements (p. 436, par. 10).

16. Gidgidoni, who was a chief judge and a great prophet, was appointed commander-in-chief (p. 438, par. 3).

17. The Nephites gathered themselves together for the purpose of mutual defense, and provided themselves with seven years’ provisions (p. 439, par. 4).

19. A great battle was fought between the Nephites and the Gadianton robbers, in which the latter were defeated, and their leader, Giddianhi, was slain (p. 440, pars. 6, 8).

21. The Nephites slew tens of thousands of the robbers, and took all that were alive prisoners, and hanged their leader, Zemnarihah (p. 441, 442, pars. 9, 10).

25. Mormon made new plates, upon which he made a record of what took place from the time Lehi left Jerusalem until his own day, and also a history of his own times (p. 443, par. 11).

26. The Nephites spread themselves abroad on their former possessions (p. 445, par. 1).

30. Lachoneus, the son of Lachoneus, was appointed governor of the land. He was murdered, and the people became divided into numerous tribes (p. 446, 447, pars. 3, 4).

31. Nephi having great faith in God, angels did minister to him daily (p. 449, par. 8).

32. The few who were converted through the preaching of Nephi were greatly blessed of God (p. 449, par. 10).

33. Many were baptized into the Church (p. 449, par. 10).

34. A terrible tempest took place, which changed and deformed the whole face of the land. Three days elapsed during which no light was seen.

The voice of Jesus Christ was heard by all the people of the land, declaring that he had caused this destruction, and commanding them to cease to offer burnt-offerings and sacrifices (p. 453, pars. 7, 8).

35. In this year Jesus Christ appeared among the Nephites, and unfolded to them at large the principles of the Gospel (p. 455, pars. 11, 1). The apostles of Christ formed a Church of Christ (p. 492, par. 1).

36. Both the Nephites and the Lamanites were all converted, and had all things in common (p. 492, par. 2).

37. Many miracles were wrought by the disciples of Jesus (p. 492, par. 3).

59. The people rebuilt the city of Zarahemla, and were very prosperous (p. 493, par. 3).

100. The disciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to Paradise except the three who obtained the promise that they should not taste of death (p. 493, par. 5).

110. Nephi died, and his son Amos kept the record (p. 493, par. 6).

194. Amos died, and his son Amos kept the record (p. 494, par. 7).

201. The people ceased to have all things in common; they became proud, and were divided into classes (p. 494, par. 7).

210. There were many churches who were opposed to the true Church of Christ (p. 494, par. 8).

230. The people dwindled in unbelief and wickedness from year to year (p. 494, par. 8).

231. A great division took place among the people (p. 495, par. 8).

244. The wicked part of the people became stronger and more numerous than the righteous (p. 495, par. 9).

260. The people began to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton (p. 495, par. 9).

300. The Gadianton robbers spread themselves all over the face of the land (p. 496, par. 10).

305. Amos died, and his brother Ammaron kept the record in his stead (p. 496, par. 11).

320. Ammaron hid up all the sacred records unto the Lord, and gave commandment unto Mormon concerning them (p. 496, pars. 11, 1).

321. A war commenced between the Nephites and Lamanites, in which the former were victorious (p. 497, par. 2).

325. Mormon was restrained from preaching to the people, and because of their wickedness, and the prevalence of sorceries, witchcrafts, and magic, their treasures slipped away from them (p. 497, par. 2).

326. Mormon was appointed leader of the Nephite armies (p. 498, par. 3).

330. A great battle took place in the land of Joshua, in which the Nephites were victorious (p. 498, par. 3).

344. Thousands of the Nephites were hewn down in their open rebellion against God (p. 499, par. 4).

345. Mormon had obtained the plates according to commandment of Ammaron, and he made an account of the wickedness and abominations of his people (p. 499, par. 5).

346. The Nephites were driven northward to the land of Shem, and there fought and beat a powerful army of the Lamanites (p. 500, par. 6).

349. The Nephites obtained by treaty all the land of their inheritance, and a ten years’ peace ensued (p. 500, par. 6).

360. The king of the Lamanites sent an epistle to Mormon indicating that they were again preparing for war (p. 501, par. 7).

361. A battle took place near the City of Desolation. The Nephites were victorious (p. 501, par. 8).

362. A second battle ensued with the like result (p. 501, par. 8). Mormon now gave up the command of the Nephite army (p. 501, par. 9).

363. The Lamanites obtained a signal victory over the Nephites, and took possession of the City of Desolation (p. 502, par. 1).

364. The Nephites retook the City of Desolation (p. 503, par. 2).

366. The Lamanites again took possession of the City of Desolation, and also succeeded in taking the City of Teancum (p. 503, par. 3).

367. The Nephites avenged the murder of their wives and children, and drove the Lamanites out of their land; and ten years’ peace ensued (p. 503, par. 3).

375. The Lamanites came again to battle with the Nephites, and beat them (p. 504, par. 3).

The Nephites from this time forth were prevailed against by the Lamanites; Mormon therefore took all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord (p. 504, par. 3).

379. Mormon resumed the command of the Nephite armies (p. 504, par. 4).

380. Mormon wrote an abridged account of the events which he had seen (p. 505, par. 5).

384. The Nephites encamped around the hill Cumorah. Mormon hid up in the hill Cumorah all the plates that were committed to his trust, except a few which he gave to his son Moroni (p. 507, pars. 1, 2).

The battle of Cumorah was fought, in which two hundred and thirty thousand of the Nephites were slain (p. 507, pars. 2, 3).

400. All the Nephites, as a distinct people, except Moroni, were destroyed (p. 509, par. 1).

421. Moroni finished and sealed up all the records, according to the commandment of God (p. 561, par. 1).

[214] While Amaleki was keeping the records, Mosiah, the father of
King Benjamin, and as many as would hearken to the voice of God, were
commanded to go into the wilderness, and were led by the power of the
Almighty to the Land of Zarahemla, where they discovered a people who
left Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah was carried away captive
into Babylon. They were led by Mulek, the only surviving son of
Zedekiah; and on their arrival in America, met with Coriantumr, the
late king of the Jaredites, who were slain a little previous to the
immigration of Mulek and his people (p. 139, 40, 411, 549, pars. 6,
9).