31  But these are written, that ye might ^bbelieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

  4  For the fulness of mine intent is that I may ^apersuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

  1  Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the world—I have been induced to write this history, to disabuse the public mind, and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the ^bfacts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and the Church, so far as I have such facts in my possession.