Copyright for Book of Mormon, 11 June 1829, Clerk’s Copy
Source Note
Northern District of , Copyright for Book of Mormon, likely Utica, Oneida County, NY, 11 June 1829; clerk’s copy; New York North District, Copyright Book, vol. 116, p. 107; printed form with manuscript additions probably in the handwriting of ; Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.
Be it remembered, That on the eleventh day of June in the fifty third year of the Independence of the , A.D. 1829Joseph Smith Junior of the said District, hath deposited in this Office the title of a Book the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to wit: The Book of Mormon, an account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi; Wherefore it is an abridgement of the record of the and also of the , which are a remnant of the , and also to Jew & written by way of commandment and also by the spirit of prophesy & of revelation, written & sealed & hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed, to come forth by the gift & power of God unto the interpretation thereof— Sealed up by the hand of Moroni & hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile, the interpretation thereof by the gift of God; an abridgement taken from the book of Ether: Also, which is a record of the people of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven; which is to shew into the remnant of the house of Israel how great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; & that they may know the covenants of the Lord that they are not cast off forever: and also to the convincing of the Jew & Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found Spotless at the judgment seat of Christ. By Joseph Smith Junior, author & proprieter.——
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the , entitled “An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;” and also, to the act entitled “An act supplementary to an act entitled ‘An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned,’ and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching historical and other prints.”
Clerk of the Dist. Court of the for the Northern District of [p. 107]