It was in the beginning of 1827, that Joe, in a trip to Pittsburg, became acquainted with Rigdon.  A great intimacy took place betwixt them, and they paid each other alternate visits—­Joe coming to Pittsburg and Rigdon going to the Susquehanna, for pleasure excursions, at a friend’s.  It was also during the year that the Smith family assumed a new character.  In the month of June, Joseph Smith, sen., went to a wealthy, but credulous farmer, and related the following story:—­

“That some years ago, a spirit had appeared to Joe, his son, and, in a vision, informed him that in a certain place there was a record on plates of gold, and that he was the person who must obtain them, and this he must do in the following manner:—­On the 22nd of September, he must repair to the place where these plates of gold were deposited, dressed in black clothes, and riding a black horse, with a switch tail, and demand the plates in a certain name; and, after obtaining them, he must immediately go away, and neither lay them down nor look behind him.”

The farmer gave credit to old Smith’s communication.  He accordingly fitted out Joseph with a suit of black clothes, and borrowed a black horse.  Joe (by his own account) repaired to the place of deposit, and demanded the plates, which were in a stone box, unsealed, and so near the surface of the ground that he could see one end of it; raising the lid up, he took out the plates of gold; but fearing some one might discover where he got them, he laid them down, to replace the top stone as he had found it; when, turning round, to his surprise, there were no plates to be seen.  He again opened the box, and saw the plates in it; he attempted to take them out, but was not able.  He perceived in the box something like a toad, which gradually assumed the appearance of a man, and struck him on the side of his head.  Not being discouraged at trifles, Joe again stooped down and attempted to take the plates, when the spirit struck him again, knocked him backwards three or four rods, and hurt him very much:  recovering from his fright, he inquired of the spirit, why he could not take the plates; to which the spirit made reply, “Because you have not obeyed your orders.”  He then inquired when he could have them, and was answered thus:  “Come one year from this day, and bring with you your eldest brother; then you shall have them.”

“This spirit,” said the elder Joseph Smith, “was the spirit of the prophet who wrote this book, and who was sent to Joe Smith, jun., to make known these things to him.  Before the expiration of the year, the eldest brother died; which,” the old man said, “was a decree of Providence.”  He also added—­

“Joe went one year from that day to demand the plates, and the spirit inquired for his brother, and Joe replied that he was dead.  The spirit then commanded him to come again in one year from that day, and bring a man with him.  On asking who might be the man, he was answered that he would know him when he saw him.”