“Blasphemy–‘Book of Mormon,’ alias The Golden Bible.” Rochester Daily Advertiser (NewYork) (2 April 1830).
BLASPHEMY—“BOOK OF MORMON,” alias THE GOLDEN BIBLE.
The “Book of Mormon” has been placed in our hands. A viler imposition was never practised. It is an evidence of fraud, blasphemy and credulity, shocking to the Christian and moralist. The “author and proprietor” is one “Joseph Smith, jr.”–a fellow who, by some hocus pocus, acquired such an influence over a wealthy farmer of Wayne county, that the latter mortgaged his farm for $3000, which he paid for printing and binding 5000 copies of the blasphemous work. The volume consists of about 600 pages, and is divided into the books of Nephi, of Jacob, of Mosiah, of Alma, of Mormon, of Ether, and of Helaman.—“Copy right secured!” The style of the work may be conjectured from the “preface” and “testimonials” which we subjoin. . . .