Monday, February 22, 2010

2nd Chapter of the Book of Nephi

This is the first of a collection of "Chronicles, Notes, and Maxims" written by a leader of the Owenite Community south of Kirtland, Dr. Samuel Underhill. The originals are in the Stark County Historical Society and transcriptions made by Richard Cherok are on file at the Massillon Public Library, Massillon, Ohio. Based on other dated materials written before and after it, Underhill produced this sometime from February to July, 1831. Given the context of events then occurring within the Mormonite community to which this is addressed, I believe it was written in late February.

Collection #12 of Chronicles, Notes, and Maxims:

"2nd Chapter of the Book of Nephi

1. Now Nephi made a cave in Mount Zulak and he put on sackcloth for a garment and he loved not the world any more.
2. And he turned his eyes towards heaven and he sighed deeply & gazing steadfastly he fell into a deep sleep.
3. And he dreamed that an angel came unto him and touched him saying speak thou to the people touching the things that are afar off.
4. For behold those hast forsaken the world and looked upwards therefore will I make thy name known to the nations & thy fame shall be great.
5. See thou let no razor touch thy head or thy beard and let thy meat be locusts and wild honey.
6. Put no confidence in women but turn thine eyes from them for they lie in wait to decieve.
7. They will put on a smile for a few days and cajole the thoughtless; there will they love thine enemy.
8. Their tongue is a deadly poison; yet Nephi we have no she angels in heaven.
9. Thou shall be as one of us if thou art faithful to speak all that I command thee.
10. But know thou O Nephi that men of Behal will say in the day when these things shalll be made known that this story is of human invention and they shall despise thy sayings.
11. And this shall be a testimony of these truths when men shall despise them even the pharisees of the day.
12. And now be strong for the things I command thee for surely nothing shall fail of all which I shall say unto thee.
13. And nephi awoke and his knees smote one against another and he said woe is me for an angel hath spoken strange things unto me."

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Finally, A Kick Off After Long Delays

This blog is finally up an going after long delays. I was told today that Amazon has officially sent out a notice that my book on Kirtland, Ohio's Latter-day Saint history is available for purchase. (I imagine delivery will still be a couple of weeks away.) The book went to press almost four years ago and over the ensuing years I've come to appreciate aspects of the story I had not understood in the same way earlier. Although there was opportunity to insert parts of that story into the book during the editing process, I finally had to recognize that I couldn't deal with parts of the Kirtland experience in the book and had to do it elsewhere. That's the primary motivation for this site. I'll include other parts of the Latter-day Saint experience as they seem relevant.