Fourth.—That a favored people of the Lord, aside from the Jews, dwelt upon the earth in the days of the Savior, is to be inferred from the Bible. The Savior said to His disciples:
"Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10: 16).
It is believed by some that the "other sheep" Christ mentioned were the Gentiles that accepted the Gospel through the teachings of His Apostles. This cannot be His meaning, for He had no "other sheep" among the Gentiles, for none of them, of which there is any record, believed at that time. He also said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15: 24). There is no account of Him going to visit the heathen, or of the latter hearing His voice.
The remarkable volume known as the Book of Mormon gives an account of the Savior's visit to the "other sheep" which He declared should hear His voice.
Fifth.—That the record of this chosen people of the western world shall be joined with that of the Jews, is alluded to by Ezekiel in the following language:
"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel His companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. (Ezekiel 37: 16-20).
In ancient times writings were rolled upon sticks and a record received the name "stick." The Bible is a record of the Jews, or Judah and his companions, while the Book of Mormon is a record of the descendants of Joseph. Since the latter book has been brought to light the two have practically become one in the hands of the Lord. Proofs that the Book of Mormon is authentic and divine will be given in another chapter.
Sixth.—The sacred instruments called the Urim and Thummim, which Joseph Smith says he used in the translation of the ancient writings, are named in the scriptures. (Exodus 28: 30). That they were used for the purpose of getting information from a divine source is also evident from the Bible. (Numbers 27: 21; I Samuel 28: 6). The scriptures mention them as being connected with a breastplate. (Leviticus 8: 8).
CHURCH ORGANIZATION THE SAME AS FORMERLY.
Seventh.—The character of the church which the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to organize is strictly in harmony with the church of Christ of former days. It was established by revelation from God, as Jesus said He would build His church when He declared to Peter,