In the interest of clarity, charity and understanding, we want everyone to know what Heber C. Kimball said about Cumorah.
Heber joined the Church in western New York in 1832. Before leaving for Kirtland, he visited Cumorah because of its historic significance as the site of the final battle of the Nephites and Jaredites.
Few M2C promoters/believers know about Heber's experience. To the extent they do, they simply claim Heber was speculating and was wrong, just like Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, David Whitmer, Lucy Mack Smith, and everyone else who contradicted the M2C theory.
In a way, it's funny to see the M2Cers deny what we can all see plainly. But in another way, it's tragic.
The M2Cers are not the only ones who oppose clarity, charity and understanding with respect to the New York Cumorah. Church historians forgot to include Cumorah in the Saints books. The historical record about the New York Cumorah has never been included in Church historical exhibits at Cumorah in New York or anywhere else.
In September, for the 200th commemoration of Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith, the Church History Department won't even mention the actual historical record about Cumorah, including Heber's account.
The book Life of Heber C. Kimball relates the account (click to enlarge):
Transcript:
Heber remarks that the death-bed scene of this zealous and devoted Saint was to him another testimony of the truth and power of the everlasting gospel. Vilate Kimball took charge of Miriam's two little daughters, and, thenceforth, until after they removed from Mendon, the families of Brigham and Heber were as one.
In the meantime, the latter had been ordained an Elder, under the hands of Joseph Young, and labored with him and Brigham in the ministry. They visited Genesee, Avon and Lyonstown, baptizing many and building up branches of the Church. The following incident, related by Heber, shows how powerfully the Holy Ghost wrought through him in his ministrations :
"Brother Ezra Landon preached in Avon and Genesee, baptized eighteen or twenty, and being afraid to confirm them and promise the Holy Ghost, he requested me to confirm them, which I did according to the best of my knowledge, pronouncing but a few words on the head of each one, and invariably saying, 'receive ye the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus Christ. ' Immediately the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and several commenced speaking in tongues before they arose from their knees, and we had a joyful time. Some ten or twelve spoke in tongues, neither of whom had ever heard any person speak in tongues before, they being the first baptized in that place."
The region in which he was laboring is thus interestingly described :
"From the time Father Bosley located near Avon, he found and plowed up axes and irons, and had sufficient to make his mill irons, and had always abundance of iron on hand without purchasing. .
"In the towns of Bloomfield, Victor, Manchester, and in the regions round about, there were hills upon the tops of which were entrenchments and fortifications, and in them were human bones, axes, tomahawks, points of arrows, beads and pipes, which were frequently found ; and it was a common occurrence in the country to plow up axes, which I have done many times myself.
"I have visited the fortifications on the tops of those hills frequently, and the one near Bloomfield I have crossed hundreds of times, which is on the bluff of Honeyoye River, at the outlet of Honeyoye Lake.
"In that region there are many small deep lakes, and in some of them the bottom has never been found. Fish abound in them.
"The hill Cumorah is a high hill for that country, and had the appearance of a fortification or entrenchment around it. In the State of New York, probably there are hundreds of these fortifications which are now visible, and I have seen them in many other parts of the United States."
Readers of the Book of Mormon will remember that in this very region, according to that sacred record, the final battles were fought between the Nephites and Lamanites. At the hill Cumorah, the Nephites made their last stand prior to their utter extermination, A. D.,
Thus was Heber preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, above the graves of the ancients of Israel, whose records with the fullness of that Gospel, and the relics of their prowess and civilization, were now "whispering from the dust."
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