Charles Anthon was professor of classical studies at Columbia College (today’s Columbia University) for forty-seven years-1820-1867. In earlier years he attended Columbia as a student and is described as probably the most brilliant scholar ever to attend Columbia College.
The Dictionary of American Biography describes Professor Anthon as a prolific writer. During a period of thirty years he produced at least one volume annually. ''Each of his text books passed through several editions, and for thirty years his influence upon the study of the classics in the United States was probably greater than that of any other man.'(Vol. 1, p. 314) Edgar Allen Poe wrote of Anthon: "If not absolutely the best, he is at least generally considered the best classicist in America ..." (The Literati, New York, 1859, pp. 45-47). Harper's Weekly, Aug. 17, 1867, said Professor Anthon was "more widely known in Europe than any other American commentator on classical authors."
Dr. Anthon was a bachelor and lived in a wing of Columbia College. It is believed that it was there, in his study, that Martin Harris interviewed him.
It is rather amazing how literally these last four verses were fulfilled. Here is what Martin Harris says happened:
I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian.
I then showed him those which were not translated, and he said that they were true characters. He gave me a certificate certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct.
I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him. He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, then he took it and tore it to pieces saying that there was no such thing as ministering angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him HE WOULD TRANSLATE THEM. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.'
I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation. (History of the Church Vol. I, p. 20)
According to Isaiah and Nephi the Lord would leave this sacred record in the custody of the man who would be uneducated and unskilled. They knew he would protest, saying, "I am not learned.”
To gain some idea of the truly "unlearned" status of Joseph Smith at the age of 23, we quote these words from his wife, Emma Hale Smith, who testified in later years concerning the inability of Joseph Smith to have written the Book of Mormon or even a simple treatise. She said,
"Joseph Smith [as a young man] . . . could neither write nor 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." Then she continued: "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." (Quoted from Preston Nibley's The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, pp. 28-29)
