Mormon Dilemma 772 Indians are Lamanites

The Wentworth Letter, March 1842; “America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fouth (sic) century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country.” – Joseph Smith

Romans 3:13; “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.”

The Wentworth Letter was written by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, outlining the history of Mormonism.

The letter was written in response to a request of a friend of Wentworth who was researching information for a book he was writing on the history of New Hampshire 

The letter contained not only info on the history of Mormonism and Smith’s ideas of who inhabited America, but it also included Smith’s first vision account and statements of what they believe which eventually turned into the Articles of Faith.  

Since the time of its first publication in 1842, it’s gone through two edits; one in 1851 & 1902.