the plates, and that an angel showed them, and the engravings which were upon them. But if the plates were hid by the angel so that they have not been seen since, how do these witnesses know that when Smith translated out of a hat, with a peep-stone, that the contents of the plates were repeated and written down? Neither of the witnesses pretend that they could read the hieroglyphics with or without the stone; and, therefore, are not competent testimony—nor can we see any use, either in finding the plates or the spectacles, nor of the exhibition of them.
The notable ball is committed to the charge of Helaman, by the right of the law of primogeniture, with the following descriptive and pathetic remarks from his father—"And now my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball or director, or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass: and the Lord prepared it." The sons of Alma were all priests, and were called missionaries, because they devoted their time to traveling and preaching among the heathen, declaring unto them the glad tidings of great joy. Alma now prophecies of the destruction of the Nephites; he says, that four hundred years after the coming of Christ they will entirely lose their religion, p. 348.
The following extraordinary doctrines were preached in the days of the Judges; and believers were called Christians, and "baptism unto repentance" was declared the only door of salvation. "And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches, p. 349. "And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them gladly the name of Christ or Christians, as they were called, because of their belief in Christ,' p. 301. "And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord
