“So that they will not be forgotten and lost.”
In June 1877, two months before he died, a sick and feeble
Brigham Young gave a sermon in Farmington, relating important facts about
Cumorah “so that they will not be forgotten and lost.”
In the ensuing century, these things were widely known among
Latter-day Saints. But today, few Latter-day Saints know about them.
The problem: Contrary to the Church’s direction
regarding openness about its history, the Church History Department has
manipulated the historical record by systematically erasing Cumorah from
curriculum (Saints, websites, JS papers), historic sites and visitors centers, and museums. As
Brigham feared, accurate information about Cumorah has been forgotten and lost.
The policy of omitting (“de-correlating”) Cumorah may be an
effort to avoid contention, but it has the opposite effect. Omitting authentic,
relevant historical sources causes confusion and supports claims that the
Church “hides” its history.
Proposed solution: The Church History Department will
accurately present authentic historical sources pertaining to Cumorah in
historic sites, museums, and curriculum. This will allow visitors to make
informed decisions for themselves.
This solution will cure the problem of the current policy of
omitting these sources.
Clarification: Church
leaders have wisely declined to take a position on the topic of Book of Mormon
geography. Instead, leaders have consistently taught two things: (i)
Cumorah/Ramah is in New York and (ii) we do not know the locations of other
Book of Mormon sites in the New World.
Background.
The renovations and dedication of the Hill Cumorah in New
York reflect the Church’s priority on preserving its history according to
scriptural and prophetic guidance.
Yet the thousands of annual visitors to the site commonly
wonder why the hill is named Cumorah.
There are two alternative answers.
1.
This historical record tells us that it was
Moroni who named the hill the first time he met Joseph Smith. (See references
below.)
2.
The Church History department says nothing about
the historical record, but instead teaches that the name Cumorah was attached
to the hill by early Church members who merely made assumptions about the hill.
The discrepancy creates confusion for Latter-day Saints and
their friends. The Church History Department seeks to avoid the confusion by
de-correlating historical references to Cumorah. However, omitting these
sources lends support to the claims of critics that the Church is hiding its
history.
The impetus for de-correlating the Cumorah sources appears
to be an effort to accommodate modern theories of Book of Mormon geography that
place Cumorah/Ramah in southern Mexico or elsewhere in the world.
Pursuant to this policy, the Church History Department
produces content such as the website on historic sites that (i) misquotes and
paraphrases scriptures (ii) uses inconsistent rationales to support its Cumorah
theory, and (iii) omits specific, relevant historical accounts and documents.
See https://www.ldshistoricalnarratives.com/2025/07/church-historical-sites-and-suggestions.html
Omitting these references means that Brigham Young’s concern
about knowledge being lost has come to pass.
The rising generation in the Church never learns what Joseph
and Oliver explained about the hill Cumorah. As we read in Mosiah,
there were many of the rising
generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little
children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the
tradition of their fathers.
2 They did not believe what had
been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe
concerning the coming of Christ.
3 And now because of their unbelief
they could not understand the word of God
(Mosiah 26:1–3)
Among the historical references “de-correlated” by the
Church History Department include the following. Like all accounts of the early
days of the Restoration (First Vision, Moroni’s visit, the plates, the
translation, etc.) these accounts are recollections.
1.
1823-Joseph Smith. “Glad
tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the
fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be
revealed.” (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20) This shows that Moroni
declared glad tidings from Cumorah before the Book of Mormon was even
translated.
2.
1823-Joseph Smith by his mother. “Now Joseph
beware or when you go to get the plates your mind will be filled with darkness
and all manner of evil will rush into your mind. To prevent you from keeping
the commandments of God that you may not succeed in doing his work and you must
tell your father of this for he will believe every word you say the record is on a side hill on the Hill of
Cumorah 3 miles from this place remove the Grass and moss and
you will find a large flat stone pry that up and you will find the
record under it laying on 4 pillars of cement— then the angel left him”
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41
3. 1827-Joseph
Smith by his mother. [Joseph] smiled, and said in a very calm tone, “I have taken the
severest chastisement, that I have ever had in my life”. My husband, supposing
it was from some of the neighbors, was quite angry; and observed, “I would
would like to know what business any body has to find fault with you.” “Stop,
father, Stop.” said Joseph, “it was the angel of the Lord— as I passed by the
hill of Cumorah, where the plates are, the angel of the Lord met me and said, that I had
not been engaged enough in the work of the Lord; that the time had come for the
record to <be> brought forth; and,
that I must be up and doing, and set myself about the things which God had
commanded me to do: but, Father,’ continued he, ‘give yourself no uneasiness concerning the reprimand that I
have received; for I now know the course that I am to pursue; so all will be
well.” https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1845/111
4.
1829-David Whitmer (quoted by Orson Pratt and
Joseph F. Smith). In June 1829, David Whitmer traveled to Harmony to pick up
Joseph and Oliver. Before leaving Harmony, Joseph had given the plates to a
divine messenger. On the way back to Fayette, they encountered the messenger
along the road. "When I was returning to Fayette with Joseph and Oliver
all of us riding in the wagon, Oliver and I on an old fashioned wooden spring
seat and Joseph behind us, while traveling along in a clear open place, a very
pleasant, nice-looking old man suddenly appeared by the side of our wagon who
saluted us with, “good morning, it is very warm,” at the same time wiping his
face or forehead with his hand. We returned the salutation, and by a sign from
Joseph I invited him to ride if he was going our way. But he said very
pleasantly, “No, I am going to Cumorah.’
This name was something new to me, I did not know what Cumorah meant. We
all gazed at him and at each other, and as I looked round enquiringly of Joseph
the old man instantly disappeared, so that I did not see him again."
REPORT OF ELDERS ORSON PRATT AND JOSEPH F. SMITH to President John Taylor and
Council of the Twelve. Original: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/dca15baa-a0ac-4fc1-b2ec-7f3cd75e4906/0/44
5.
1830-Oliver Cowdery (quoted by Parley P. Pratt)
during the mission to the Lamanites (D&C 28, 30 and 32). "This Book,
which contained these things, was hid in the
earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which hill is now in
the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario County.
6.
1835 Oliver Cowdery. At about one mile west
rises another ridge of less height, running parallel with the former, leaving a
beautiful vale between. The soil is of the first quality for the country, and
under a state of cultivation, which gives a prospect at once imposing, when
one reflects on the fact, that here, between
these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the Jaredites and
Nephites were destroyed. By turning to the 529th and 530th pages of
the book of Mormon120 you will read Mormon’s account of the last great struggle
of his people, as they were encamped round this hill Cumorah. (it
is printed Camorah, which is an error.) In this valley fell the remaining
strength and pride of a once powerful people, the Nephites—once so highly
favored of the Lord, but at that time in darkness, doomed to suffer
extermination by the hand of their barbarous and uncivilized brethren. From
the top of this hill, Mormon, with a few others, after the battle, gazed
with horror upon the mangled remains of those who, the day before, were filled
with anxiety, hope or doubt. [Mormon] abridged from those records, in his own
style and language, a short account of the more important and prominent items,
from the days of Lehi to his own time, after which he deposited, as he
says, on the 529th page, all the records in this same hill, Cumorah and after
gave his small record to his son Moroni, who, as appears from the
same, finished, after witnessing the extinction of his people as a nation. … This hill, by the Jaredites, was called Ramah: by it, or
around it pitched the famous army of Coriantumr their tents. …In this same spot, in full view from the
top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was
twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellow men. Here may be seen where
once sunk to nought the pride and strength of two mighty nations; and here may
be contemplated, in solitude, while nothing but the faithful record of Mormon
and Moroni is now extant to inform us of the fact…
7.
1836 “An Angel Came Down from the Mansions of Glory”
Hymn 16, Collection of Sacred Hymns, 1835 (published in 1836) Pursuant to
D&C 25, Emma Smith selected hymns for the first Church hymnal, published in
Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. Hymn 16 explains Moroni told Joseph that the record
was hid in Cumorah. “An angel came down from the mansions of glory, And told that a
record was hid in Cumorah, Containing the
fulness of Jesus’s gospel; And also the cov’nant to gather his people.
8. 1840 An Angel from on High
Elder
Parley P. Pratt wrote the lyrics of this hymn, which he included in the hymnal
he, Brigham Young and John Taylor published in Manchester, England in 1840 as hymn #197. https://archive.org/stream/collectionofsacr00youn#page/218/mode/2up Emma Smith added this hymn
to her 1841 Nauvoo collection as hymn #275. https://archive.org/stream/collectionofsacr01smit#page/302/mode/2up “An angel from on high
The long, long silence broke; Descending from the sky,
These gracious words he spoke: Lo! in Cumorah's lonely hill A sacred record lies
concealed.
9.
1874 Brigham Young. When
Joseph first received the knowledge of the plates that were in the hill Cumorah, he did not then receive the keys of the Aaronic
Priesthood, he merely received the knowledge that the plates were there, and
that the Lord would bring them forth, and that they contained the history of
the aborigines of this country. He received the knowledge that they were once
in possession of the Gospel, and from that time he went on, step by step, until
he obtained the plates, and the Urim and Thummim, and had power to translate
them. 18:239–JD 18:241
10. 1875
Orson Pratt “Your speech shall be low out of the dust,” the same as the Book of
Mormon was taken out of the hill, anciently
called Cumorah, in the State of New York. 1875, OP Book of ¶26 • JD
18:165–JD 18:166)
11. 1876 Orson Pratt. It is well known that the Book of
Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith, from certain plates which he discovered,
deposited in a certain hill, anciently called Cumorah, which is situated in Ontario County, State of New York,
having previously been shown the place in open vision. (1870s1876, OP Prophecies ¶4 • JD 18:223)
12. 1877
Brigham Young “I lived right in the country where
the plates were found from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and
I know a great many things pertaining to that country. I believe I will take
the liberty to tell you of another circumstance that will be as marvelous as
anything can be. This is an incident in the life of Oliver Cowdery, but he did
not take the liberty of telling such things in meeting as I take. I tell these
things to you, and I have a motive for doing so. I want to carry them to the
ears of my brethren and sisters, and to the children also, that they may grow
to an understanding of some things that seem to be entirely hidden from the
human family. Oliver Cowdery went with the Prophet Joseph when he deposited
these plates. Joseph did not translate all of the plates; there was a portion
of them sealed, which you can learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got the plates, the angel instructed him to
carry them back to the hill Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went
there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was a large
and spacious room. He says he did not think, at the time, whether they had the
light of the sun or artificial light; but that it was just as light as day.
They laid the plates on a table; it was a large table that stood in the room.
Under this table there was a pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there
were altogether in this room more plates than
probably many wagon loads; they were piled up in the corners and
along the walls. The first time they went there the sword of Laban hung upon
the wall; but when they went again it had been taken down and laid upon the
table across the gold plates; it was unsheathed, and on it was written these
words: “This sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this
world become the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” I tell you this as coming not only from Oliver Cowdery, but others who
were familiar with it, and who understood it just as well as we
understand coming to this meeting, enjoying the day, and by and by we separate
and go away, forgetting most of what is said, but remembering some things. So
is it with other circumstances in life. I relate this to you, and I want you to
understand it. I take this liberty of referring
to those things so that they will not be forgotten and lost. Carlos Smith was a young man of as much veracity
as any young man we had, and he was a witness to these things. Samuel Smith saw
some things, Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the leader.
(1870s1877, BY Trying to ¶7 • JD 19:38)
