BY ELDER B. H. ROBERTS, IN THE CONTRIBUTOR, 1890.  
Among those who may be accounted the benefactors of our race, we claim for the Prophet Joseph Smith, the second place. To Him who died that man might live, upon whom was laid the iniquity of us all; by whose stripes we are healed; who brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel; who by way of pre-eminence is called the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father—to Him must be assigned, forever, the first place among the benefactors of mankind. And next to him is the Prophet, who was chosen to stand at the head of the dispensation of the fullness of times.
 
Born in obscurity—in the western wilds of the state of New York, and of humble parents, without the advantages of worldly education; with no knowledge of ancient languages or history to begin with; untutored in the sciences, and unlearned in theology, Joseph Smith has done more for the salvation of the children of men than any reformer, theologian or ecclesiastic that has lived since the days of the earthly ministry of the Son of God. It is to prove his right and title to the high place we have assigned him in the roll of honor—in the list of the benefactors of humanity—that this paper is written, rather than to give a biographical sketch of his well known career.
 
Notwithstanding the very explicit revelation, which God had given of himself; of His person, His attributes, His powers, through His Son Jesus Christ; for in Him dwelt all the fullness of the God-head bodily, the world had gone far astray, in its conception and knowledge of God. Men had conjured up to themselves a being without body, without parts and passions, and worshiped it for God—a being that never was, nor is, nor ever shall be. Of the absurdity of such a description of God, however, we need not speak.
 
Another idea equally false and equally baneful in its effects on true religion, and as universally accepted as the above conception of the being and character of Deity, was the doctrine that the volume of revelation was closed.
 
Such was the state of the world in respect to these matters, when Joseph Smith announced that he had received a {142} new revelation; that he had seen both the Father and the Son, and had conversed with them in a glorious vision, in the full light of day. His testimony was that both Father and Son possessed a body, parts, organs, dimensions in form like man, and each resembled the other. This revelation was soon followed by the visitation of an angel, Moroni, one of the ancient Prophets of the American continent, who made known the existence of the Book of Mormon; a volume of scripture compiled from the voluminous records kept by that enlightened people, who anciently inhabited America, the ruins of whose civilization are the astonishment of the archaeologists of today. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, from the ancient and now unknown language in which it was written, into English, and thus gave the world a new volume of scripture, equal in bulk and equal in importance to the New Testament. Thus, since faith is bottomed on evidence, the foundation of faith was widened. The world now had two volumes of scripture instead of one; the testimony of each sustaining the other. That volume of scripture is not the voice of one witness merely, but like the Bible it contains the testimony of many witnesses for God. Who can estimate the value of this work, that comes in a day when unbelief is prevalent in the earth, to renew and sustain the sinking faith of humanity!
 
While yet the work of translating this valuable book was in progress, the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery were visited by John the Baptist, whom God had raised from the dead, and he conferred upon them an Aaronic Priesthood, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels; of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. This ordination, therefore, gave the Prophet and his fellow laborer the authority to preach repentance and baptism. They began by baptizing each other.
 
Subsequently they were ordained to the Apostleship under the hands of the Apostles Peter, James and John. This gave them the right and power to build up the Church and Kingdom of God in all the world. Accordingly on the 6th of April, 1830, the Prophet organized the Church. The Gospel began to be publicly proclaimed; those who believed were baptized for the remission of sins; received the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost; and the gifts and powers of that spirit were manifested among the Saints by speaking in tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, inspired dreams, healing the sick, and all those gracious gifts and powers enjoyed by the ancient Saints. High Priests, Elders, Bishops, {143} Priests, Teachers and Deacons, were ordained as the work of the ministry increased. Branches of the Church were organized, and men holding proper authority set to preside over them. Finally these branches were grouped together and organized into stakes of Zion, with a presidency of three High Priests to preside over them. High Councils, consisting of twelve High Priests, with the Presidency of the Stake, as the presidency thereof were organized, forming courts possessing both original and appellate jurisdiction in the ecclesiastical affairs of the stakes, in which they were respectively established.
 
In 1835 he organized a quorum of the Twelve Apostles, men who are chosen especially to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ, and who constitute a traveling High Council, with authority to regulate all the affairs of the Church in all the world. At the same time quorums of seventy were organized to be their helps in the ministry, this being an order of the Priesthood designed to travel and preach the Gospel in all the nations of the earth. Thus he organized the Church and all the quorums thereof. But he did more than that.
 
In the Book of Mormon it is predicted that a splendid city called Zion, or New Jerusalem shall be built upon this continent, a city noted not for its manufactories, nor for commerce; but for its temples and sanctuaries for worship and learning; a city on which the glory of God will shine. The place where this city and where the chief temple is to be built was indicated by the Prophet, and the temple site dedicated under his direction. This was at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri. Between twelve and fifteen hundred of the Saints gathered to that place to lay the foundation of the city of Zion, but their enemies prevented them by driving them away from the lands they had purchased, and burning their houses Thus the work was hindered for the time being, but the location of Zion was pointed out, a commencement was made, and eventually the design of the Lord will be accom............