| 747 by extensive cultivation. The Book of Mormon says:
"And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which was grievous to be borne [born]; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings.-And he did erect him an exceeding beautiful throne, and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto taxes, he did cast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes, he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor, he did cause to be put to death; wherefore he did obtain all his fine work; yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison, and all manner of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prisons. And it came to pass that he did afflict the people with his whoredoms and abominations; and when he had reigned for the space of forty and two years the people did raise up in rebellion against him and there began to be war again in the land, insomuch [inasmuch] that Riplakish was killed, and his descendants were driven out of the land."
The 'Jaredites,' were destroyed for their wickedness, but how many "spacious buildings," and doleful "prisons," remain among the ruins of departed things, as witnesses of their fame and folly, needs a little revelation to unravel: a portion of that spirit which showed a Daniel Nebuchadnezzar's dream and images might solve the mystery. If the "ruins," of Egypt, Balbec, Babylon, and Pompeii, exhibit in the smallest degree, the greatness and glory of the Oriental world, in past ages; so do the "ruins" of Central and South America declare the splendor, genius, intellect, refinement, and power that once actuated the master spirits and their hosts upon these uttermost parts of the earth., It takes some men a great while to consider upon the reality of revelation; they want the privilege of bringing up their "strong reasons" to refute it, when at the same time, a novel or other trite matter, will pass along for truth, without even a hint that all is vanity.-This is not right: it destroys the efficacy of truth and religion at the same time, and introduces the wild imaginations of men in the place of the revealed will of God.
Oneness and union are the only principles upon which Jehovah acts. Oneness of purpose and union to effect it. The course of men, since the fall, has been the reverse. Diversity for satisfaction, and division for success: by which means, the affections have been alienated; love banished by hatred; true religion driven into the wilderness by popularity and public patronage, and the whole world "from the rivers to the end of the earth" has become the market place of speculation: and there are men ready to furnish the market with every thing;-law, religion, politics, souls, bodies, diseases, cures, curiosities, paintings and even "ruins"-but, except the Mormons, no one comes to market in the name of Israel's God, with revelation, declaring the meaning of the handwriting upon the wall; showing a wondering world what has been; what is; what will be; and the way of the Lord.
To turn the attention of such as may read the works of Stevens' upon the "ruins" of Central America, we ask a perusal of the following from the writings of Nephi in the Book of Mormon:
"Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof. And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned. And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof; to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them. And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth; yea, and the city Onihah, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mecum, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants thereof, and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them. And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city Gimgimno, all these have I caused te [to] be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof, and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them. And behold, that great city Jacobugath which was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government
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