Mormon History

Early Scenes in Church History, is the eighth in a series of 17 books called The Faith-Promoting Series. Published between 1879 and 1915, this series of books was published by the Juvenile Instructors Office for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints. It was George Q. Cannon's inspiration that produced the series, however. In 1866, Cannon, then a member of the Quorum of the 12, began publication of a magazine for youth and young adults called The Juvenile Instructor, which he owned and published until his death in 1901, when his family sold the magazine to the LDS Church's Sunday School organization. Thus, in 1882 when the present work, Early Scenes in Church History, was published, it was a work undertaken under the direction of Cannon, with the blessing of the Church's governing leadership.

This book contains a true account of the origin of the Book of Mormon, including a sketch of the history, experience, and ministry of Elder William Smith.

Who would have thought being steady with a matchstick could save your life, and the lives of two others? Orville did. Who would have thought you could farm in quicksand? Orville did. Who invented the Cox trough? Who invented the pig plow? Who created a device to rid the pioneers of crickets? Who learned to navigate a sinking canoe? Orville did. By his 24th birthday Orville Southerland Cox had a reputation of being a thorough frontiersman, forester, lumberman, a splendid blacksmith, a natural-born engineer - in short, a genius.