1
We continued to translate, at intervals, when not under the necessity of attending to the numerous inquirers who now began to visit us;
2
Some for the sake of finding the truth others for the purpose of putting hard questions and trying to confound us.
3
Among the latter class were several learned priests, who generally came for the purpose of disputation.
4
However, the Lord continued to pour out upon us His Holy Spirit, and as often as we had need, He gave us in that moment what to say;
5
So that although unlearned and inexperienced in religious controversies, yet we were able to confound those learned priests of the day;
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Whilst at the same time we were enabled to convince the honest in heart that we had obtained, through the mercy of God, the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ;
7
And occasionally we administered the ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins to such as believed.
8
¶ While seeking to make arrangement to print the Book of Mormon, the additional testimony of eight others was obtained from Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer Junior, John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith.
9
These eight witnesses obtained a view of the plates near the Smith residence at Manchester.
10
After arriving at the Smith residence, Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith, joined Joseph’s company from Fayette,
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And together they repaired to a place in the woods where members of the Smith family were wont to hold secret prayer, and there the plates were shown to these eight witnesses.
12
These eight were not attended by an angel, but rather this was a plain, matter-of-fact exhibition of the plates;
13
And they not only saw the plates but handled them and examined the engravings upon them.