Emma Smith
“Joseph Smith (as a young man)…could nether write for dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictate a book like the Book of Mormon, and though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me—a marvel and a wonder—as much as to anyone else….My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it…when acting as his scribe, your father (she was being interrogated by her son) would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was an unusual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this and for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.” (The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, Preston Nibley, pp. 28-9 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 96)