Preface

To the Reader——

As many fals reports have been sirculated respecting this <the following> work & also many unla wful measures taken by evil desineing persons to destroy me also the work I would  inform you that I translated by the gift & power of God & caused to be written one  hundred & sixteen pages the which I took from the Book of Lehi which was an acc ount abridged from the plates of Lehi by the hand of Mormon which said account  some person or persons have stolen & kept from me notwithstanding my utmost exer sion to recover it again & being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate  the same over again for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God  by altering the records that they did read conterary from that which I translated &  caused to be written & if I should bring forth the same words again or in other words if I  should translate the same over again they would publish that which they had stolen &  Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation that they might not receive this work  but behold the Lord said unto me I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish  his evil design in this thing therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi  untill you ye come to that which ye have translated which ye have retained &  behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi & thus I will confound those who  have altered my words I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work yea  [I] will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater then the cunning of the Devil  wherefore to be obediant unto the commandments of God I have through his grace  & mercy accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing

I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken was <were> found in  the township of Manchester Ontario County New York

The Author