Catherine Smith Salisbury, told me she was present at home when her brother, Joseph Smith, came in near exhausted, carrying the package of gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. He was carrying the package clasped to his side with his left hand and arm, and his right hand was badly bruised from knocking down at least three men who had leaped at him from behind bushes or fences as he ran until oout of breath. She said he entered the house running and threw himself on a couch panting from his extraordinary exertion.

She told me Joseph allowed her to "heft" the package but not to see the gold plates, as the angel had forbidden him to show at that period. She said they were very heavy.