Thirty-Nine (1844)(^37) “The Urim and Thummim eventually found its way into my hands, after it had lain for
years virtually unnoticed and unappreciated by those who previously had it in their possession. I did
not steal it from anyone. I have never stolen anything. It was acquired by Timothy...one of the three
Nephite apostles who has lived since the time of the ancient Nephites. Though I know how he came
in possession of it, I would rather not reveal the details, as the revelation might lead the unbelieving
to be convinced that a crime has been committed. I say to those who suspect this: No more of a crime
was committed in Timothy’s acquiring of the Urim and Thummim than the crime that Nephi carried
out by stealing the plates of brass. However, I can assure the unbeliever that Timothy had no reason,
nor the necessity, to take another’s life in order to secure the Urim and Thummim. Steal it, maybe;
but those from whom he took it must be the first to condemn him, which I highly doubt they will
do—in light of the fact that upon doing so, they will give credence and substance to the purpose and
use of these miraculous rocks that I presently have in my possession, and which I will continually
keep throughout the remainder of my life.
“Technically, the Urim and Thummim cannot be stolen, since it was actually given
anciently by the Lord for the purpose of translating records and giving prophecy. The Lord
will make sure that it is secure in the hands of the person to whom he would have it given in
order to fulfill his will.” (“How Was The Sealed Portion Translated?” Marvelous Work and a
Wonder®, 2011, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder Purpose Trust, 23 Jul. 2011
http://www.marvelousworkandawonder.org/tsp/download/HowWasTheSealedPortionTrans
lated.pdf);
See also “How Was ‘The Sealed Portion, The Final Testament of Jesus Christ’ Translated?”
Marvelous Work and a Wonder®, 2011, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder Purpose Trust, 23 Jul. 2011
http://www.marvelousworkandawonder.org/q_a/contents/1gen/q03/3gen002.htm.
(^38) TSP, 1.
(^39) D&C, 124:3, 11,107; Revelation 18:3; 19:19.
(^40) DHC, 6:181.
(^41) DHC, 6:432.
(^42) DHC, 6:432–3.
(^43) DHC, 434–52.
(^44) DHC, 6:453–8, et seq.
(^45) “Sixteen years after Ford had acquiesced in the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, he
said in his history of Illinois: ‘The Christian world, which has hitherto regarded Mormonism with
silent contempt, unhappily may yet have cause to fear its rapid increase. Modern society is full of
material for such a religion. At the death of the Prophet, fourteen years after the first Mormon Church
was organized, the Mormons in all the world numbered about two hundred thousand souls (one half
million according to their statistics); a number equal, perhaps, to the number of Christians, when the
Christian Church was if the same age. It is to be feared that, in the course of a century, some gifted
man like Paul, some splendid orator, who will be able by his eloquence to attract crowds of the
thousands who are ever ready to hear, and be carried away by the sounding brass and tinkling
cymbal of sparkling oratory, may command a hearing, may succeed in breathing a new life into this
modern Mahometanism, and make the name of the martyred Joseph ring as loud, and stir the souls of
men as much, as the mighty name of Christ itself. Sharon, Palmyra, Manchester, Kirtland, Far West,
Adam-ondi-Ahman, Ramus, Nauvoo and the Carthage Jail, may become holy and venerable names,
places of classic interest, in another age: like Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives,
and Mount Calvary to the Christian, and Mecca and medina to the Turk. And in that event, the author of
this history feels degraded by the reflection, that the humble governor of an obscure state, who would otherwise
be forgotten in a few years, stands a fair chance, like Pilate and Herod, by their official connection with the true
religion, of being dragged down to posterity with an immortal name, hitched on to the memory of a miserable
impostor. There may be even those whose ambition would lead them to desire an immortal name in
history, even in those humbling terms. I am not one of that number.’” Quoted from George Q. Cannon,
The Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet (1888; Whitefish: Kessinger, 2006) 500, n. (*).