Young.

Any study of the aims and objects of the Mormon leaders must rest
on the Mormon Bible ("Book of Mormon") and on the "Doctrine and
Covenants," the latter consisting principally of the
"revelations" which directed the organization of the church and
its secular movements. In these alone are spread out the original
purpose of the migration to Missouri and the instructions of
Smith to his followers regarding their assumed rights to the
territory they were to occupy; and without a knowledge of these
"revelations" no fair judgment can be formed of the justness of
the objections of the people of Missouri and Illinois to their
new neighbors. If the fraudulent character of the alleged
revelation to Smith of golden plates can be established, the
foundation of the whole church scheme crumbles. If Rigdon's
connection with Smith in the preparation of the Bible by the use
of the "Spaulding manuscript" can be proved, the fraud itself is
established. Considerable of the evidence on this point herein
brought together is presented at least in new shape, and an
adequate sketch of Sidney Rigdon is given for the first time. The
probable service of Joachim's "Everlasting Gospel," as suggesting
the story of the revelation of the plates, has been hitherto
overlooked.

A few words with regard to some of the sources of information
quoted:

"Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith and his Progenitors for
Many Generations" ("Mother Smith's History," as this book has
been generally called) was first published in 1853 by the Mormon