Critics of Oliver Cowdery, both LDS and non/anti/former LDS, insist that his statement of fact about the Hill Cumorah/Ramah in New York was false.
Some say he was merely speculating or guessing when he said it was a fact. Others said he was deliberately misleading or even lying.
Those interested in the topic can review all of the essays to see how often Oliver referred to facts as opposed to speculation, uncertainty, guessing, etc.
For the passage about Cumorah in Letter VII, search this page for "between these hills."
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Facts
in Oliver’s essays on Church history
30x fact(s) highlighted in red. References to opinions/beliefs are in blue.
Original sources:
https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/7160
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/48
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Oliver Cowdery to William W. Phelps, 7 September 1834
Norton, Medina Co. Ohio, Sabbath evening,
September 7, 1834.
To do <Justice to> this subject will
require time and space: we therefore ask the forbearance of our readears,
assuring them that it shall be founded upon facts
...
This, I confess, is
a dark picture to spread before our patrons, but they will pardon
my plainness when I assure them of the truth, In fact, God has so ordered, that the reflections which I am
permited to cast upon my past life, relative to a knowledge of the way of
salvation, are rendered “doubly endearing.”
...
For, the question
might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ,
who deny revelation? when his testamony is no less then the spirit of
prophecy? and his religeon based, built, and sustained by immediate
revelations in all ages of the world, when he has had a people on earth?
If these facts were
burried, and carefully concealed by men whose craft would have been in
danger, if once permited to shine in the faces of men, they were no longer
to us; and we only waited for the commandment to be given, “arise and be
baptized.”
...
Letter II.43
To W[illiam] W. Phelps, Esqr.
Dear Brother:—
In the Last Messenger
and Advocate I promised to commence a more particular or minute history of
the rise and progress of the church of the Latter Day Saints; and publish
for the benefit of enquirers and all who are disposed to learn. There are
certain facts relative to the works of
God worthy the consideration and observance of
every individual, and every society:— They are that he never works in
the dark—his works are always performed in a clear, intelligible manner:
and another point is, that he never works in vain.
...
The fact is as Tertullian said, no man ever looked
carefully into its co[n]sistency and propriety without embracing it. It is
impossible: That light which enlightens man, is at once enraptured: that
intelligence which existed before the world was, will unite, and that
wisdom in the Divine economy will be so conspicuous, that it will be
embraced, it will be observed, and it must be obeyed!
...
Since the apostles fell asleep all men who profess a belief in the truth of their mission, extol their virtues and celebrate their fame. It seems to have been forgotten that they were men of infermities and subject to all the feelings, passions, and imperfections common to other men.
The Jews were willing, (professedly so) to believe the ancient prophets, and follow the directions of heaven as delivered to the world by them; but when one came teaching the same doctrine, and proclaiming the same things, only that they were nearer, they would not hear. Men say if they could see they would believe, but I have thought the reverse, in this respect—If they cannot see they will believe.
...
When looking over the sacred scriptures we seem to forget that they were given through men of imperfections, and subject to passions. It is a general belief that the ancient proptets [prophets] were perfect—that no stain, or blemish ever appeared upon their characters while on earth, to be brought forward by the opposer as an excuse for not believing. The same is said of the apostles; but James said that Elias -[Eligah]- was a man subject to like passions as themselves, and yet he had that power with God that in answer to his prayer it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and a half.58
...
But such facts as are within my
knowledge, will be given without any reference to inconsistencies, in the
minds of others [p. 57] or impossibilities, in the feelings of such as do not
give credence to the system of salvation and redemption so clearly set forth
and so plainly written over the face of the sacred scriptures:
Upon the propriety,
then, of a narrative of this kind, I have briefly to remark: It is known to
you, that this church has suffered reproach and persecution, from a
majority of mankind who have heard but a rumor, since its first
organization. and further, you are also conversant with the fact, that no sooner had the messengers of the fulness of the
gospel began to proclaim its heavenly precepts, and call upon men
to embrace the same, than they were vilified and slandered
by thousands who never saw their faces, and much less knew aught
derogatory of their characters, moral or religious—upon this unfair and unsaint
like manner of procedure they have been giving in large sheets their own
opinions of the incorrectness of our system, and attested volum[e]s of our
lives and characters.
Since, then, our opposers have been thus kind to introduce our cause before the public, it is no more than just that a correct account should be given; and since they have invariably sought to cast a shade over the truth, and hinder its influence from gaining ascindency, it is also, proper that it should be vindicated, by laying before the world a correct statement of of events as they have transpired from time to time.
Whether I shall succeed so far in my purpose as to convince the publick of the incorrectness of those scurulous reports which have inundated our land, or even but a small portion of them, will be better ascertained when I close than when I commence; and I am content to submit it before the candid for perusal, & before the Judge of all for inspection, as I most assuredly believe that before Him I must stand and answer for the deeds transacted in this life.
Should I, however, be instrumental in causing a few to hear before they judge, and understand both sides of this matter before they condemn, I shall have the satisfaction of seeing them embrace it as I am certain that one is the inevitable fruit of the other.
...
In my last, published in
the 3d No. of the Advocate I apologized
for the brief manner in which I should be obliged to give, in many
instances, the history of this church. Since then yours [p. 60] yours of
Christmas has been received,65 It
was not my wish to be understood that I could not give the leading items
of every important occurrence. at least so far as would effect
my duty to my fellowmen, in such as contained important information upon
the subject of doctrine, and as would render it intelligibly plain; but as there
are, in a great house, many vessels, so in the history of a work of this
magnitude, many items which would be interesting to those who follow,
are forgotten. In fact, I deem every manifestation of the
Holy Spirit, dictating the hearts of the saints in the way
of righteousness, to be of importance, and this is one reason why I
plead an apology.
You will recollect that I
mentioned the time of a religious excitement, in Palmyra and vicinity to have been in the
15th year of our brother J.
Smith jr’s age—that was an error in the type—it should have been in the 17th.—
You will please remember
this correction, as it will be necessary for the full understanding of
what will follow in time. This would bring the date down to the year 1823.
...
To be sure, the Lord appeared to his
apostles after his resurrection, and we do not learn as they were in the
least difficultied to look upon him; but from John’s description upon
Patmos, we learn that he is there represented as most glorious in
appearance; and from other items in the sacred scriptures we have the fact recorded where angels appeared and conversed with men,
and there was no difficulty on the part of the individuals, to endure
their presence; and others where their glory was so conspicuous that they
could not endure. The last description or appearance is the one to which I
refer, when I say that it is no easy task to describe their glory.
...
This, I conceive to be an important item— Not
many mighty and noble, were called in ancient times, because they
always knew so much that God could not teach them, and a man that
would listen to the voice of the Lord and follow the teachings of heaven,
always was despised, and concidered to be of the foolish class— Paul
prooves this fact, when
he says, [“]we are made as the filth of the world—the off-scouring of all
things unto this day.”
...
This being of so much importance, and of so
deep interest to the sainst [saints], I have thought best to give
a farther detail of the heavenly message, and if I do not give it in
the precise words, shall strictly confine myself to the facts in substance.
...
You are aware of the fact, that to give a
minute rehearsal of a lengthy interview with a heavenly messenger, is
verry difficult unless one is assisted immediately with the gift of
inspiration. There is another item I wish to notice on the subject of
visions.
...
I know much may <be> conveyed to the understanding in writing, and many
marvellous truths set forth with the pen, but after all it is but a
shadow, compared to an open vision of seeing, hearing and realizing
eternal things. And if the fact was known, it would be found, that of all
the heavenly communications to the ancients, we have no more in
comparison than the alphabet to a quarto vocabulary.
...
It will not be expected that I shall digress so
far from my object, as to go into particular explanations on different items
contained in yours; but as all men are deeply interested on the great
matter of revelation, I indulge a hope that you will present such facts as are plain and uncontrovertible, both from our former
scriptures and the book of Mormon, [p. 79] to show that such is not only
consistent with the character of the Lord, but absolutely necessary to the
fulfilment of that sacred volume, so tenaciously admired by professors of
religion—I mean that called the bible.
....
You have, no doubt, ase well as myself, frequently heard those who do not pretend to an “experimental” belief in the Lord Jesus, says, with those who do, that, (to use a familiar phrase,) “any tune can be played upon the bible:”— What is here meant to be conveyed, I suppose, is, that proof can be adduced from that volum[e], to support as many different systems as men please to choose: one saying this is the way, and the other, this is the way, while the third says, that it is all false, and that he can “play this tune upon it.” If this is so, alas for our condition: admit this to be the case, and either wicked and designing men have taken from it those plain and easy items,115 or it never came from Deity, if that Being is perfect and consistent in his ways.
But although I am ready to admit that men, in previous generations, have with polluted hands and corrupt hearts, taken from the sacred oracles many precious items which were plain of comprehension, for the main purpose of building themselves up in the trifling things of this world, yet, when it is carefully e[x]amined a straight forward consistency will be found, sufficient to check the vicious heart of man and teach him to revere a word so precious, handed down to us from our fathers, teaching us that by faith we can approach the same benevolent Being, and receive for ourselves a sure word of prophecy, which will serve as a light in a dark place,116 to lead to those things within the vail, where peace, righteousness and harmony, in one uninterrupted round, feast the inhabitants of those blissful regions in endless day.
...
It is said, and I believe the account, that the Lord showd the brother of Jared (Moriancumer) all things which were to transpire from that day to the end of the earth, as well as those which had taken place.111 I believe that Moses was permitted to see the same, as the Lord caused them to pass, in vission before him as he stood upon the mount;112 I believe that the Lord Jesus told many things to his apostles which are not written, and after his ascension unfolded all things unto them; I believe that Nephi, the son of Lehi, whom the Lord brought out of Jerusalem, saw the same; I believe that the twelve upon this continent, whom the Lord chose to preach his gospel, when he came down to manifest to this branch of the house of Israel, [p. 78] that he had other sheep, who should hear his voice, were also permitted to behold the same mighty things transpire in vision before their eyes; and I believe that the angel Moroni, whose words I have been rehearsing, w[h]o communicated the knowledge of the record of the Nephites, in this age, saw also, before he hid up the same unto the Lord, great and marvelous things, which were to transpire when the same should come forth; and I also believe, that God will <give> line upon line precept upon precept to his saints, until all these things will be unfolded to them, and they finally sanctified and brought into the Celestial glory, where tears will be wiped from all faces, and sighing and sorrowing flee away!
...
You will remember that
in my last I brought my subject down to the evening, or night of the 21st of September, 1823, and gave an outline of the
conversation of the angel upon the important fact of the blessings,
promises and covenants to Israel, and the great manyifestations of favor
to the world, in the ushering in of the fulness of the gospel, to
prepare the way for the second advent of the Messiah, when he comes
in the glory of the Fathers with the holy angels.
A remarkable fact is to be noticed with
<regard> to this vision.
...
He could not have been decieved in the fact that a being of some kind appeared to him; and that it
was an heavenly one, the fulfillment of his words, so minutely, up to this
time, in addition to the truth and word of salvation which has been
developed to this generation, in the book of Mormon, ought to be
conclusive evidence to the mind of every man who is priveleged to
hear of the same.
...
Here was a strugle
indeed; for when he calmly reflected upon his errand, he knew that if God
did not give, he could not obtain; and again, with the thought or hope of
obtaining, his mind would be carried back to its former reflections of poverty,
abuce,— wealth, grandure and ease, until before arriving at the place
described, this wholly occupied his desires; and when he thought upon
the fact of what was previously
shown him, it was only with an assurance that he should obtain, and
accomplish his desires in relieving himself and friends from want.
A history of the
inhabitants who peopled this continent, previous to its being discovered to
Europeans by Columbus, must be interesting to every man; and as it would
develope the important fact, that the present race were descendants of Abraham,
and were to be remembered in the immutable covenant of the Most High
to that man
...
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.
...
But a long time previous to this disaster it
appears from his own account, he foresaw approaching destruction. In fact, if he perused the
records of his fathers, [p. 86] which were in his possession, he could have
learned that such would be the case. Alma, who lived before the
coming of the Messiah, prophesies this.
...
Here may be seen where once sunk to nought the
pride and strength of two mighty nations; and here [p. 87] may be contemplated,
in solitude, while nothing but the faithful record of Mormon and Moroni is
now extant to inform us of the fact, scenes of misery and distress—the aged, whose silver locks
in other places and at other times would command reverence; the mother,
who in other circumstances would be spared from violence;
...
How far below the
surface these records were placed by Moroni, I am unable to say; but from the fact they had been some fourteen hundred years buried, and that
too on the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude that they
were some feet below, as the earth would naturally wear more or less
in that length of time. But they being placed toward the top of the hill,
the ground would not remove as much as at two-thirds, perhaps.
Another circumstance would prevent a wearing away of the
earth: in all probibility, as soon as timber had time to grow, the hill
was covered, after the Nephites were destroyed, and the roots of
the same would hold the surface. However, on this point I shall leave
every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own speculation, as I
only promised to give a description of the place at the time the records were
found [p. 90] in 1823.—126 It
is sufficient for my present purpose, to know, that such is the fact: that in 1823, yes, 1823, a man with whom I have had
the most intimate and personal acquaintance, for almost seven years, actually
discovered by the vision of God, the plates from which the book of Mormon,
as much as much as it is disbelieved, was
translated! Such is the case, though men rack their verry brains
to invent falshood, and then waft them upon every breeze, to the contrary
notwithstanding.
I have now given
sufficent on the subject of the hill Cumorah—it has a singular and
imposing appearance for that country, and must ex[c]ite the curiosity curious enquiry
of every lover of the book of Mormon: though I hope never like Jerusalem
and the sepulcher of our Lord, the pilgrims. In my estimation, certain
places are dearer to me for what they now contain than for what they have
contained.
...
Having thus digressed from my main subject to give a few items for the special benefit of all, it will be necessary to return, and proceed as formerly.—
And if any suppose I have indulged too freely in reflections, I will only say that it is my opinion, were one to have a view of the glory of God which is to cover Israel in the last days, and know that these, though they may be thought small things, were the beginning to effect the same, they would be at a loss where to close, should they give a moment’s vent to the imaginations of the heart
You will have woundered, perhaps, that the mind of our brother should be occupied with the thoughts of the goods of this world, at the time of arriving at Cumorah, on the morning of the 22nd of September, 1823, after having been rapt in the visions of heaven during the night, and also seeing and hearing in open day; but the mind of man is easily turned, if it is not held by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and you will remember that I have said that two invisible powers were operating upon his mind during his walk from his residence to Chumorah, and that the one urging the certainty of wealth and ease in this life, had so powerfully wrought upon him, that the great object so carefully and impressively <named by the angel had entirely> gone from his recollection that only a fixed determination to obtain now urged him forward. In this, which occasioned a failure to obtain, at that time, the record, do not understand me to attach blame to our brother: he was young, and his mind easily turned from correct principles, unless he could be favoured with a certain round of experience. And yet, while young, untraditionated and <un>taught in the systems of the world, he was in a situation to be lead into the great work of God, and be qualified to [p. 93] perform it in due time.
...
From this time to September, 1827, few
occurrences worthy of note transpired. As a fact to be expected, nothing of importance could be recorded
concerning a generation in darkness.—
...
They are industrious, honest, virtuous and
liberal to all. This is their character; and though many take advantage of
their liberality, God will reward them; but this is the [p. 100] fact, and this testimony
shall shine upon the records of the saints, and be <recorded on the archives of heaven to be> read in the day of eternity, when the
wicked and perverse, who have vilely slandered them without cause or
provocation, reap their reward with the unjust, where there is weeping,
wailing and gnashing of teeth!— if they do not repent.
...
It is no more than to be expected, I admit, that men of corrupt hearts will try to traduce his character and put a spot upon his name; indeed, this is according to the word of the angel; but this does not prohibit me from speaking freely of his merits, and contradicting those falshoods—I feel myself bound so to do, and I know that my testimony, on this matter, will be received and believed while those who testify to the contrary are crumbled to dust, and their words swept away in the general mass of lies when God shall purify the earth!
...
Though you may say, this is a digression
from the subject proposed, I trust I shall be indulged, for the purpose
of satisfaction satisfying many,
who have heard so many slanderous reports that they are <led to believe them true because they are> not contradicted; and besides, this
generation are determined to oppose every item in the form or under the
pretence of revelation, unless it comes throug[h] a man who
has always been more pure than Michael the great prince; and as this
is the fact, and my
opposers have put me to the necessity, I shall be more prolix, and have no
doubt, before I give up the point, shall prove to your satisfaction, and
to that of every man, that the translator of the book of Mormon is
worthy the appelation of a seer and [p. 102] a prophet of the Lord.
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