TO THE READER
1830 MARCH

P Joseph Smith, Palmyra, New York, to the Reader of the Book of Mormon, March 1830, published as Preface to the Book of Mormon, 1830 edition.

During the early stages of translation of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris, who was assisting Joseph Smith as a scribe, persuaded the Prophet to allow him to take the translated pages to show close family members. In one of the traumatic events connected with the coming forth of the book, the borrowed pages were lost.413 The impact of this breach of trust, along with the intense opposition Joseph Smith had experienced since obtaining the gold plates, was the subject of a letter he published as the preface to the book when it came off the press at Palmyra, New York, in March 1830.

To The Reader

As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again—and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their god, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New-York.

The Author