I'm know a lady who is putting together a book on archeological evidences of the Book of Mormon. She asked me recently if I knew where to find a reference to a certain quote by joseph smith. Supposedly after receiving the plates from the Angel Moroni, Joseph Smith fell on his knees and prayed "Oh God, but what will the world think of these things?". To which the Lord replied, "Fear not for I will cause the earth to testify of these things." Does anybody know where I could find this quote published somewhere?
I"m pretty sure this is not an exact quote. I really have no idea where I might find it. The lady told me she has only heard people mention the account of Joseph Smith but she has never read it. I'm not a gospel scholar. The lady only asked me because she knows I went to BYU and thought I might know somebody that might know.
I think it is unlikely he said it. I say this because such a statement sounds like much of what we have in the Doctrine and Covenants. I have to believe that if this were part of his story, it would have been recorded as such and we would have it as scripture.
In addition, I did a search on lds.org for "Fear not for I will cause the earth to testify of these things." and there were no results. Again, if Joseph Smith said this, I have to believe it would have been quoted in an article in the Ensign as some point.
Of course, one big problem is that you don't think it is an exact quote. This makes it much more difficult to find the truth.
I think Joseph's experience with the Angel Moroni have been pretty well documented. I can't believe such a profound question and answer would have been left unrecorded.
This is, of course, my opinion only. If someone has evidence to show this was said, I would love to read it.
I found this quote:
David Whitmer, in an interview with James H. Hart (1883) -- "When we [the Witnesses] were first told to publish our statement, we felt sure the people would not believe it, for the Book told of a people who were refined and dwelt in large cities; but the Lord told us that He would make it known to the people, and people should discover the ruins of lost cities and abundant evidence of the truth of what is written in the Book."
Interview with James H. Hart (Richmond, Missouri, 21 August 1883), as recorded in Hart's notebook. Reprinted in Cook, David Whitmer Interviews, 96; compare page 98.