He had no difficulty in locating the spot where the records were hidden.[1] It was the matter of but a moment to scrape away the grass and dirt and with a lever pry loose the stone which served as a covering to the box containing the sacred treasure. There before him, lying on two stones which were crosswise of the box, he beheld the record. With it were the Urim and Thummim, two transparent stones set in bows of silver and attached to the breastplate--all as the angel had described. He was enraptured. Putting forth his hand he attempted to remove the plates, but received a shock, which in a measure deprived him of his strength. After a moment's hesitation he made a second attempt, but received a greater shock than at first. The cause of this was unknown to him, for he had supposed that physical strength and exertion were all that were necessary for him to obtain the record. The third time he stretched forth his hand to take the plates and again received a shock with considerable violence, which sapped his strength and made him powerless. In his great excitement and without meditation he exclaimed: "Why cannot I obtain the book?" "Because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord," answered a voice near by him. Looking up he was astonished to behold the heavenly messenger of his former visits.
In humble repentance he sought the Lord in prayer. His vision was opened and the glory of the Lord shone round about him, and he was made to feel the sweet influence of the power of righteousness. While he was beholding this vision the angel said, "Look!" Joseph beheld the prince of darkness surrounded by his innumerable train of associates in all their diabolical fury. As the visions of evil passed before him the angel said: "All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may know hereafter the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by that wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good and to do good, is of God, and whatever does not is of that wicked one. It is he who fills the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness and blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways are to destruction; but the way of holiness is peace and rest."[2]