Determined Not To Be Detained

Recently President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Jean B. Bingham produced a small video discussing the translation of the Book of Mormon at the site in Pennsylvania where much of it took place. President Nelson spoke of Oliver Cowdery and how he came to join Joseph and be his scribe. He said, “Oliver was living in New York, in this upper state of New York. And he was visited by a heavenly message of some kind that he was needed here by Joseph Smith in Pennsylvania. And he ran with the prophet's brother from Palmyra to where we are now in Pennsylvania. We made it in two days. He ran--I don't know how long it took him, maybe five days. But he ran like a deer. And he introduced himself, at the front door here, to Joseph Smith. And after he said his name—'I'm Oliver Cowdery; I'm here to help you’--Joseph said, ‘I've been expecting you.’” I think by “ran” President Nelson meant that Oliver went with all haste, which was indeed the case. The distance is about 130 miles, and Lucy Mack Smith recorded this in her history: “In april all Mr. Cowdray’s affairs being arranged according to his mind he and Samuel set out for Penn. The weather had for some time previous been very wet and disagreeable occasionally freezing nights this made the roads almost impassible particularly in the middle of the day but Mr Cowdary was determined not be detained by wind or weather and persvered untill they arrived at Joseph’s house although <​Oliver​> frozes his feet <​one of [his] toes​> and suffered much on the road from fatigue as well as <​Samuel​>.” I love her description that Oliver was “determined not be detained by wind or weather” and that he persevered in this journey. He knew that he indeed had a great work to do and was impelled to do it as soon as he could.

                President Nelson alluded to a “heavenly message” that Oliver received which was surely in part what urged him to go to find Joseph. The Saints book describes it this way: “One spring day, as rain was falling hard against the Smiths’ roof, Oliver told the family he wanted to go to Harmony to help Joseph when the school term was over. Lucy and Joseph Sr. urged him to ask the Lord if his desires were right. Retiring to his bed, Oliver prayed privately to know if what he had heard about the gold plates was true. The Lord showed him a vision of the gold plates and Joseph’s efforts to translate them. A peaceful feeling rested over him, and he knew then that he should volunteer to be Joseph’s scribe.” Joseph at this time in Harmony was severely struggling because of opposition and the lack of help to accomplish the work. He later wrote, “We had become reduced in property and my wives father was about to turn me out of doores I & I had not where to go and I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me.” Joseph had prayed that the Lord would send him someone to help with the translation, and he related that “the angel said that the Lord would send someone to write for me, and I trust that it will be so.” So Oliver’s arrival was indeed an answer to prayers and a fulfillment of an angelic promise. Joseph and Oliver began the work in earnest shortly after Oliver arrived, and the next three months was when the majority of the book was translated. President Nelson commented, “And they worked assiduously while being hounded by mobs, even some adversarial relationships with members of the family, until they were done. They had to move from Pennsylvania back to New York to finish the work. Meanwhile, they had to file for a copyright, and the restoration of the priesthood came, and 15 revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants had to be recorded. About 60, 65 working days, they got that job done. They translated. So the book was done on June 30 of that year, translating at about the rate of six to eight manuscript pages per day.” That was truly an incredible feat and accomplished only through the miraculous power of God.  

                So then, today marks the 194^th anniversary of the completion of the translation of The Book of Mormon. I am grateful for its teachings that have guided my life and its testimony of Jesus Christ. I love Moroni’s description of its purpose in the title page: “To the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” This is similar to what Nephi wrote: “It must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:12-13). The Book of Mormon’s primary role is to convince us that Jesus is the Christ and that we can have His power in our lives through the Holy Ghost and our faith in Him. And just as He revealed the truth to Oliver, He can do likewise for us as we seek Him with that same faith and desire and willingness to “run” to do His work.