LDS historical narratives: Palmyra newspapers 1825-6

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Palmyra newspapers 1825-6

To better understand Joseph's translation of the Book of Mormon, it is useful to become familiar with his environment in Palmyra, where he acquired vocabulary, his intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations, and his understanding of the world.

In my view, evidence of the nonbiblical language in Joseph Smith's translations and revelations is evidence that the Lord spoke to him "after the manner of [his] language" (D&C 1:24). This is evidence that, as he always said, Joseph actually translated the plates, contrary to the recent resurrection of the old Mormonism Unvailed SITH theory (stone-in-the-hat).

One way to enter Joseph's environment is to read the various newspapers published in Palmyra.

200 years ago, on January 3, 1826, the Wayne Sentinel published an announcement that Tucker & Gilbert were offering tracts published by the New York Tract Society.

These tracts give a good flavor for what was being taught to youth in Sunday School in Palmyra. Whether Joseph actually read these is unknowable, of course, but there are some non-biblical phrases and terminology here that do appear in Joseph's translations, revelations, and writings.

This one uses the non-biblical phrase "cold and silent grave" that appears in 2 Nephi 1:14.

(click to enlarge)

This one encourages readers to "trifle not" with its advice, using the non-biblical phrase that appears three times in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The next one asks a series of questions similar to Alma 5 (which was a common rhetorical technique of the day) and even refers to the "arms of his mercy," a non-biblical phrase picked up 6 times in the Book of Mormon (e.g., Alma 5:33) and once in the D&C as "arms of mercy."

It uses the non-biblical Book of Mormon/D&C term "enable" here: "Ask him to enable you to lay hold on him by faith."

The tract also asks "Has he 'clothed you with the robe of his righteousness?'" The phrase "robe of righteousness" appears 3 times in scripture:

Isaiah 61:10 "he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness."

2 Nephi 4:33 "encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness"

2 Nephi 9:14 "being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness"

We can see that this tract and 2 Nephi 9:14 share the concept of being clothed with the robe of righteousness.

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Another example, the January 5, 1825, issue of the Wayne Sentinel has an article about South Carolina.

Transcript:

A difficult question is likely toa rise between the United States and the state of South Carolina. It will be recollected that the latter some time since, passed a law to prohibit the arrival of free blacks within the state, and that its provisions extended so far as to direct the imprisonment of such persons, if even employed as mariners on board of any vessels coming within the jurisdiction of the state....

The operation of this law had produced some unhappy collisions among persons of different states, in some of which the free people of color are citizens, and, as such, citizens of the United States--but a case has lately occurred that will probably bring the principle of the matter to a full test...

The British government, it seems, has made a formal complaint of the proceeding, and it appears that the attorney general of the United States (on the matter being referred to him) has pronounced the state law to be unconstitutional...

Compare that with D&C 87, recorded nearly 8 years later on 25 December 1832.

Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

4 And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.

(Doctrine and Covenants 87:1–4)

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An earlier example is the Western Farmer from June 1821. This article uses some of the nonbiblical Book of Mormon terminology. By considering such resources we can gain insight into how Joseph used the same language when he translated the plates.

The writer describes a visit with her father to the Boston area where he was wounded in the war. She quoted him as saying "You see that narrow neck of land yonder, that unites the peninsula of Charlestown to the adjacent country--Over that isthmus it became my duty to lead the little band under my command, to join the main army, in the entrenchment, where we now stand....

My little band had each the spirit of a Leonidas, and not a murmur was heard when I ordered them to attempt gaining the hill, by running singly across that dangerous pass...