The Book of Mormon teaches that we must defend ourselves and our families. Joseph Smith was defending his brother Hyrum.

Lehi the ancient American prophet said:

2 Nephi 2:14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

2 Nephi 2:17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.

18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

We also learn from the New Testament, that Jesus was the Son of God, and that He has a Father. If this is true, then Jesus also is a creation of the Father, who is also our Father. We are all His spirit children including Jesus Christ, who was chosen to be the sacrifice and savior for us all. Lucifer was also there, and was his brother, and Lucifer rebelled in the presence of God as the scriptures teach (Isaiah 14:12- 20), and he was cast out of heaven forever, banished along with the rest of the third part of the hosts of heaven there. These are now the evil spirits who also reside here in the earth, and are the ones who tempt us and deceive many in the world.

Lucifer was a "son of the morning." This name-title of Satan indicates he was one of the early born spirit children of the Father. Always used in association with the name Lucifer, son of the morning also apparently signifies son of light or son of prominence, meaning that Satan held a position of power and authority in pre- existence.

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw in vision the Lord Jesus Christ, and bore record as follows:
D&C 76:23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,

26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him--he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.

27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!

28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ--

I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (November 28, 1841.) DHC 4:461.

No where do I read Joseph Smith talking about the perfectness of each word and each character as well! My how the truth gets stretched sometimes to fit a certain purpose.

The statement you reference from the Church History does not state the things you mention, but the angel Moroni told the 3 witnesses who were beholding the GOLD PLATES that These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear."

Alma 36:16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

Paul/Saul is another great example from the New Testament on how people can change and later receive Celestial Glory. We should not think that there is no way that Mary (if indeed she was the adultress) could have repented sufficient to be worthy of the Celestial Kingdom, and thus the presence of Jesus Christ. Some may have assumed this in their writings, but they are wrong when one considers the Celestial state of Alma and Paul, etc.

Next Moroni turns the key so that all who have ears to hear can understand what the secret combination is and can identify those who build it up. "For it cometh to pass," he says, "that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries."

This is a worldwide conspiracy. It is now entrenched in many nations, and it seeks dominion over all nations. It is Godless, atheistic, and operates by compulsion. It is communism.

"And it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning." (see Ether chapter 8) The Millennial Messiah, p.66

You should love your country, and do all within your power to embrace the truth and reject the false philosphies of man, such as socialism and communism. They have been clearly spelled out in the Book of Mormon by those prophets, as well as our own, as tools of the devil to take away our freedoms.

Don't be distracted by our current and corrupted government and use that as your yardstick of what the constitution stands for, any more than you would read the Book of Mormon and become disallusioned over the eventual fate of the Nephite and Jaredite nations who fell. True, we are in the process of falling, even at the brink, but we can yet save things! We can do our part.

I am only one,
but I am one.
I can't do everything,
but I can do something.
What I can do,
that I ought to do.
And what I ought to do,
by the grace of God,
I will do.
(Edward Everett Hale)

We should uphold all that is true and which came from God, no matter where we are. The Constitution of the United States is not a political document. It is a banner to the world, an example for all to follow. The Lord set it up, not man. Jesus Christ said: D&C 101:79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I have raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I am obligated to uphold all truth, no matter where it is or where it came from. I am equally obligated to fight against untruth, lies, and deceit which is caused by the craftiness of the devil. Brigham Young said:

To me it is more rational for an intelligent being to embrace truth, than it is to mix up a little truth with a great deal of error...
13:235. As hard as it may be for saints in Serbia, for example, to embrace truth, embrace it they must. Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon embraced the truth and fought diligently even unto bloodshed for it, and rallied his brethren to also defend that which was their right. It is our right to worship God no matter where we are in the world.

If we live in a country where freedom of worship is infringed in any matter, then we must work to change that. We must get involved to change our country. Indeed, I am personally involved in trying to change my country (the USA) back to what it was when it was founded under the influence of God, by upholding the Constitution, a truthful document, which by its very nature condemns communism and tyrrany. We must all do everything in our power to uphold that which is good and true. Captain Moroni did, and he was praised by Mormon:

Jacob 1:7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.

8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

Amaleki wrote:

Omni 1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Moroni wrote:

Moroni 10:29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true.

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.

This can be taken two ways. That they are the same being, or that they are two separate beings acting as one God. It is the latter. When Jesus was baptized, He heard the Father out of heaven bearing record of His Beloved Son. Also the Holy Ghost witnessed to the event. There are three beings in the Godhead. They are collectively called "God."

God the Father is not God without the Beloved Son who is the Savior. God the Father can not save us without a Savior also acting with Him. This is because of the two laws of mercy and justice. If God were to forgive our sins out of His great mercy (assuming there were no Savior), then He would rob justice. Mercy can not rob justice or God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.

So a Savior is absolutely necessary. It takes the complete unison of the holy beings in the Godhead to make salvation possible, else justice would have to take is toll and we would all be damned. But Jesus paid the price of justice when He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane for all of our sins and bled at every pore. 3 Nephi 11:11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

We are no different in our faith that Jesus Christ has commanded that one must be baptized and receive the ordinances in order to be saved. We don't trust in the ordinances or works, but we trust in Jesus Christ who commanded it. If we don't receive the ordinances, we of ourselves, forsake the blessing of salvation in the highest degree: Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God. Even though salvation comes to all in one degree or another, the highest degree comes to those who were faithful enough to be completely obedient to all of Jesus' commandments. Those who are completely obedient are invited of Christ to partake of all that He and the Father have to offer. Eternal Life.

2 Nephi 31:16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Alma 24:10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain--

12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.

13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

15 Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.

16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved.

17 And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.

18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.

19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

http://www.lds.org/en/3_Family_Gu idebook/0_Family_Guidebook.html

President Spencer W. Kimball wrote, "The meaning of death has not changed. It releases a spirit for growth and development and places a body in...Mother Earth" (p. 45).

In due time the mortal body returns to native element, and whether it is laid away in a family-selected site or buried in the depths of the sea, every essential part will be restored in the Resurrection:
"Every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:23).

We know that the Jews at the time of Jesus questioned his authority. "By what authority doest these things" was a common question. (see Matt 21:23-27) They also said to him, in essence, Abraham is our father, who are you? Jesus pointed out to them who he was when he said, Before Abraham was, I AM, and of course they did not accept it because their hearts were hardened. They picked up stones to kill him. (see John 8:58)

What his means is that the authority issue is not new to the "mormons." It mattered much to the orthodox Jews of the Sanhedrin then, and it continues to matter now to those who believe Christ commissioned servants as the bible teaches. The Book of Mormon also confirms this. This is one of the important missions of the Book of Mormon: to establish the truth of the first, even the Bible. The prophet Ezra Taft Benson said:
The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants testify of each other. You cannot believe one and not the other. The Book of Mormon testifies of modern books of scripture. It refers to them as "other books" and "last records" which "establish the truth" of the Bible and make known the "plain and precious things which have been taken away" from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13:39-40).

So Karl, there are two issues at hand here, the need for personal authority, and the occurance of the Great Apostasy where this authority was lost. You claim authority can be in the heart, and we claim that it is passed on by the laying on of hands, as Christ did to his apostles, and as his apostles did to others in the Church. The church was a very important organization then for God is a God of order. Here is but one example of how authority was given by those in charge, and that it was done by laying on of hands:

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

58 And [the council] cast him out of the city, and stoned [him]

We also have the record of the Book of Mormon where the Lord changed the skin color of Laman and Lemuel and their families when they proved to be a true enemy to the Lord.

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

http://www.lds.org/en /4_Global_Media_Guide/Overview.html

The three witnesses never recanted their testimony of witnessing the plates and the angel Moroni, so it is not a fact as you say, but it is a fact that they fell away into apostasy due to pride, etc.

BTW, here is an interesting exerpt from a book entitled A Marvelous Work and a Wonder:
In a pamphlet entitled The Strength of the Mormon Position, the late Elder Orson F. Whitney, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, related the following incident under the heading "A Catholic Utterance":

Many years ago a learned man, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, came to Utah and spoke from the stand of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I became well- acquainted with him, and we conversed freely and frankly. A great scholar, with perhaps a dozen languages at his tongue's end, he seemed to know all about theology, law, literature, science and philosophy. One day he said to me: "You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don't even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and that is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that's all there is to it. The Protestants haven't a leg to stand on. For, if we are wrong, they are wrong with us, since they were a part of us and went out from us: while if we are right, they are apostates whom we cut off long ago. If we have the apostolic succession from St. Peter, as we claim, there is no need of Joseph Smith and Mormonism: but if we have not that succession, then such a man as Joseph Smith was necessary, and Mormonism's attitude is the only consistent one. It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in latter days."

Mosiah 2:14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne--and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.

24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.

Here are some more scriptures from the Bible that teach that work in our "corrupt society: is the plan of the Lord. We have to make a living to properly support our families. 1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Jesus had a job and learned the trade of Carpenter:

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? ...

Acts 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Moses 1:1 THE words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain,

2 And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.

And this is how it was possible. God did it. So, in the case of Joseph Smith, it seems obvious that God did this change to Joseph so that he could endure Their presence.

1 Nephi 10:17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God--and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come--I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Jacob, the brother of Nephi, later taught the Nephites not to reject the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to enter in at the strait gate (baptism). Jacob 6:8 ...Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?

9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

10 And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.

1 Nephi 19:10 ...the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.

11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.

12 And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.

13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.

Nearly a millennium and a half after Jehovah gave the Passover to Israel, he himself, tabernacled among men, was preparing to celebrate the feast, to fulfil the law given to Moses, to become the Paschal Lamb, a lamb without spot and blemish whose shed blood would offer to all men spiritual freedom and deliverance from the bondage of sin.

Arrangements for this final Passover of our Lord's ministry, a Passover to be known ever after to the Church as the Last Supper, were made by Peter and John as directed by the seeric vision of Jesus. The Supper itself must have been in the home of a disciple, for the two apostles had but to mention the Master's desires and the upper room was made available.

This was the final approved Passover. Following the sacrifice of Christ as a Paschal Lamb this old ordinance was to cease and other symbols (those shown forth in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper) were to find approved usage among the Lord's people. Now the only proper celebration of the Passover is in the spiritual sense of which Paul speaks: "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor. 5:7-8.)

When Joseph got the Plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the Hill Cumorah, which he did. Oliver Cowdery says that when Joseph and he went there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was a large and spacious room. He says that he did not think, at the time, whether they had the light of the sun or artificial light, but it was as light as day. They laid the Plates on a table. It was a large table that stood in the middle of the room. Under this table there was a pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in this room more plates than many wagon loads. They were piled up in the corners and along the walls. The first time they went there, the Sword of Laban hung upon the wall, but when they went again, it had been taken down and laid upon the table across the Gold Plates. It was unsheathed, and on it was written these words, "This Sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God and His Christ."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol.. 19, p. 38)

You have heard the theories of many who have speculated that the Hill Cumorah was actually in Meso America, and could not be in New York. This was based on the information pertaining to geography, which is sketchy in the Book of Mormon, and more especially the references to the "narrow neck of land" which many have speculated is the Panama area (about a days journey for a Nephite).

The fact is, there is much more to indicate that the final battles took place in the New York area, since Joseph Smith prophesied of one righteous warrior named Zelph who was discovered by "Zion's Camp" on 3 June 1834. Modern prophets concur that the United States was where the final days of the Nephite/Lamanite battles took place. To say otherwise is to have conflict with what Joseph Smith said. The prophet Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:

In the face of this evidence coming from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer, we cannot say that the Nephites and Lamanites did not possess the territory of the United States and that the Hill Cumorah is in Central America. Neither can we say that the great struggle which resulted in the destruction of the Nephites took place in Central America. If Zelph, a righteous man, was fighting under a great prophet- general in the last battles between the Nephites and Lamanites; if that great prophet- general was known from the Rocky Mountains to "the Hill Cumorah or eastern sea," then some of those battles, and evidently the final battles did take place within the borders of what is now the United States.

Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Could this be a "peace keeping" mission to force the Jews into submission? How else does one destroy many people "by peace?"

And the Lord tells us how long this will last through His prophet Daniel: Daniel 12:11 And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days. This is the 3.5 years exactly before the coming of Christ in power and great glory. During this 3.5 years there are two of the Lord's prophets who will be in Jerusalem. John saw that they would be in the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt (Revelation 11:8) and wrote:

Revelation 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

This is the same 3.5 year period that they will prophecy (when 1/2 of the Jews are taken into captivity), again referenced from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, the thing that the orthodox Jews now practice. These two prophets will have power to turn water into blood, stop the rain, cause plagues, etc. like in the days of Moses. It's coming again! When we see these things, Jesus Christ is only 3.5 years away, because after this time is done, and the prophets are taken up into heaven (REV 11:11-12), Jesus will come to the Mount of Olives, a great earthquake happens, and the rest of the bad guys are in trouble, including the unfaithful saints. When Jesus comes at this time of calamity,

D&C 45:51 ...then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?

52 Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.

53 And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king.

54 And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them.

55 And Satan shall be bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men.

56 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived-- verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had spoken these things unto her.

And so we have the biblical record that Jesus came to His disciples on several occasions after this event, proving that Acts 3:20 can't mean what some think it means (that Jesus would stay in heaven until the 2nd coming). He most surely came back, and told his Apostles to thrust their hands into his side and see that he was of flesh and bone. If Mary could not touch the risen Lord immediately after His resurrection, why was it OK for the Apostles to handle and see that He was indeed a physical being of flesh and bone just shortly after? He must have ascended to the Father!

The evidence of personal testimony is what is important to me, and to anyone who would know with any surety. We have got to get the testimony of faith to receive our evidences from the Lord. He is willing to give us a powerful testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost, if we humble ourselves, repent, and come unto him with faith in Christ. The prophet Moroni defined this process in the Book of Mormon. Speaking of the process to know whether the Book of Mormon is the word of God or not, he said:

Moroni 10:4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

This is evidence. The evidence that one can be sure of.

It is very possible to be deceived by the physical evidences of the world, as the prophet John wrote in Revelation when he said:

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

So much for physical evidence. It can deceive.

As to the situation in the Spirit World, it can only be guessed as to whether people get more than one chance there to accept things. I personally think that it is a lot like here. There is a missionary movement taking place there in huge scale compared to ours. Jesus commissioned His prophets there to begin it 2000 years ago, and there is a "bridge" between the spirit prison and paradise (see 1 Peter 3:18-20, and D&C 138). The gospel is being taken to those who are in darkness and sin, in hopes that they will repent and follow Jesus Christ.

The prophet Joseph F. Smith (son of Hyrum Smith who was martyred at Carthage) has a vision on these things and declared:

D&C 138:57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

58 The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,

59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.

2 Nephi 1:6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

It is by the power of the Priesthood of God that these things are done. Marriage for all time and eternity is done in the temples of God, and it is something that we can read about in the scritpures. It is the binding on earth by these priesthood keys and having it also bound in heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ also gave this power to Nephi in the Book of Mormon days. He declared:

Helaman 10:6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

Omni 1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Mosiah 3:17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

3 Nephi 11:37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Spiritual warfare is taking place right now. All of us are affected in one way or another by it, for good or evil. We need to decide which side we are fighting for, Jesus or His adversary. In the millennium when Satan will be bound, there will be no such warfare.