[This material was taken directly from an old book printed
in 1920 by R.C. Evans. You should read the Preface which
presents his reasons making this material available to the public. Page numbers from the
original book are indicated in brackets.]
[page 81] From the organization of the church to the
present, there has been much strife and contention as to what the name of the church is.
David Whitmer (the sixth person baptized in the gathering, and before the church was
organized, one who claims to have seen the gold plates of the Book of Mormon, and
conversed with the Angel), together with Harris and Cowdery, the other witnesses, with
many other leading men, claim that the proper name is "The Church of Christ."
Whitmer's address, pages 73-75.
Many parts of the Book of Mormon show the name of
the church was "The Church of Christ." Nephi 12, 3.
In the Book of Commandments, a work containing the
revelations of Smith, published in 1833, from start to finish refers to the church as
"The Church of Christ." The title page reads, "A Book of Commandments for
the government of the Church of Christ."
We are informed by their historians that the church had
made several changes in its name in the first four years of its existence,
during that short period it had been called "The Church of Christ," "The
Church of Jesus Christ," "The Church of God," "The Church of.the First
Born," but that on May 3rd, 1834, during general conference at Kirtland, Ohio, Sidney
Rigdon made a motion which the conference adopted by unanimous voice, that this church be
known hereafter by the name of "The Church of the Latter Day Saints." Ch.
Hist., Vol. 1, 454.
When the revelations of Joseph Smith were published in a
book called the Doctrine and Covenants, in 1835, Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon,
Frederick G. Williams and Oliver Cowdery signed the preface, headed as follows: "To
the members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints."
The reader will see plainly that the church had no
confidence in the perported revelations of Jesus Christ to Smith, in which the church was
called the Church of Christ, for they eliminated the very name of Christ from the church
name entirely. It was no longer, if ever, the church of Christ, but only "The Church
of the Latter Day Saints."
From the history it would appear that Christ must have
felt slighted at being thrown out bodily, so He sought and succeeded in making a
compromise with the prophet, and we hear Him telling Smith in the revelation given April
26th, 1838, "For thus shall My church be called in the last days, even the
Church of 'Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints'." Ch. Hist., Vol. 2, page 151.
[page 82] We have followed the church during the early
years of its existence and find, from their own histories, that both their Christ and the
people of the church, have been vasilating and fickle minded and ridiculous as to the name
of the church, and for very shame sake, if they have any shame, they should not accuse
other churches of not having the proper name.
It would seem that the main body of the church which
followed Brigham Young to Utah, have respected the name given in 1838, but the little body
which came out of the Strangite faction in 1852 and finally succeeded in securing Joseph
Smith, son of the "Prophet," to lead them was for some time known as the
"New Organization." See article written by Z. H. Gurley in the Herald for 1860.
But finally adopted the name "The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints."
These off-shoots of original Mormonism have been so
exposed in the last year or two, that they have tried to hide their identity in some parts
by dropping their ministerial titles, such as Apostle, or High Priest, or Elder, and the
name of the church is dropped and just say "Saint's church." The proof is seen
in their advertisements for Toronto, 1918-1919.
The history of the organization of the church, April 6th,
1830, states that the "Church of Christ" was organized. Times and Seasons, Vol.
3, pages 944-945.
"The Church of Christ........ was organized........
by the will and commandment of God." April 6th, 1830, Doc. and Cov., Sec. 17, par. 1.
Are They Mormons?
Two letters appear in the Evening Telegram for December 3rd,
1918, one in the same paper for Dec. 4th, and one in the Star Weekly for Dec. 7th, and one
in the Sunday World for Dec. 14th, all Toronto, Ontario, papers. The said letters being
written by T. W. Williams, a High Priest of the Reorganized church, and some other members
of the same body, all claiming that the Latter Day Saints are not Mormons, and that the
church should not be called the Mormon church, and that the faith preached by them should
not be called Mormonism.
Now, let us examine very briefly these claims in the light
of history. "Mormons." "First, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, because of a belief in the Book of Mormon. Second, a member of the sect
called the Reorganized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Webster's Dict.
Art Mormon.
"Mormons." The common name given to the church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Encyclopedia Britannica.
We will show by the history of the church, written by
themselves that they called themselves Mormons, said the church was the Mormon church and
that the faith they preached was Mormonism. We will begin with the mother of Joseph Smith,
the first person on earth, so far as we know that called the membership of the church
Mormons.
[page 83} "I told her that we were Mormons."
Hist. of Jos. Smith by his mother, page 188. Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to
the Angel's message and the man who paid for the printing of the first publication of the
Book of Mormon, long after he had denounced Smith, when thinking of going to Salt Lake
City, said: "I feel that the spirit has come across me the old spirit of
Mormonism." Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, page 51.
Apostle P. P. Pratt refers to the church as the
"Mormon Church." Persecution of the Saints, pages 31-52.
Five leading men of the church, when writing a letter to
the authorities of Missouri, refer to the church several times as the Mormon church. Ch.
Hist., Vol. 1, pages 495-517.
P.P. Pratt was the first of these - - - to embrace Mormonism."
Life of Joseph Smith, pages 94-95.
And this is Mormonism; a grand universal scheme of
salvation, lbid 133.
"Joseph the Mormon prophet-the genius of Mormonism."
Ibid. 165.
"Book of Abraham, translated by Joseph Smith contains
Mormon theology." Ibid. 166.
"The people known as Mormons are Israel."
Ibid. page 176.
"Mormonism harmonizine the views and Gospel themes
of all the ages." lbid 205.
"In the exalted vision of Mormon theology we
have a pre-existing domain." Ibid. 311.
"The genius or Mormonism is - American."
Ibid. page 327.
"Joseph said, 'I am willing to die for a Mormon'."-and
"Mormonism." Ibid. 42,3.
Emma Smith, wife of Joseph the first, when asked by her
son Joseph the second, and head of the Reorganized Mormon church, "What of the truth
of Mormonism? replied, "I know Mormonism to be the truth." Ibid.
page 792.
Now let me present the statements of this Joseph the
second in regard to this question, and the reader will discover that he refers to the
church as the Mormon Church, and to the faith and doctrine of that church as Mormonism,
and that he claims the authority to take his father's place at the head of the Mormon
church.
Calls the citizens of Nauvoo, who were church members,
"Mormons." Ibid. 750.
"I had a long conversation respecting Mormonism."
Page 756.
"Will I ever have anything to do with Mormonism?"
Page 757.
"There is a large part of the (Smith ) family, in
Utah, they seem to be the only ones making a profession of belief in Mormonism. Does
not duty demand that I go there and clear my name and honor of the charge of ingratitude
to my father's character? - Is not polygamy against which you object a correct
tenet?" Ibid. 761.
"Joseph informs us that he concluded that "He
who had enabled my father to decide, could, if he would, enable me to decide whether I
[page 84] should or should not have anything to do with Mormonism." Ibid.,
page 762.
Speaking of Nauvoo and the County of Nancock, he says.-
"The country after the Mormons left, was worse than a new one - the County of
Hancock had twenty-five thousand Mormons residing there." Page 771.
To conclude this part of the subject let us say that young
Joseph admits that for about fifteen years he had no thought of Mormonism, but when he
failed to earn a good living at farming, he left that and went to work grading on a
railroad and lost his time and eight hundred dollars cash, all he had left, he informs us,
was "One alpaca coat, $4.00; $2.50 in cash; an iron crow bar and a log chain, all
valued at about $12.00." Page 755 He came home and tried to study law, and
"owing to want of means" he went back home and then began to wonder if he would
ever take any part in Mormonism. It just seemed that there was no money in any other job,
and so he wrote to William Marks under date of March 5th, 1860, saying: "I am soon
going to take my Father's place at the head of the Mormon church.' Speaking of this
man Marks, he says: "He had retained his faith in Mormonism as taught by
Joseph and, Hyrum." Ibid. 773.
The Joseph he refers to was his father, Hyrum his uncle.
Now let us see who Marks was. He was president of the Stake at Nauvoo and also of the High
Council at the time of Joseph Smith's death. Joseph Smith denounced him, he followed
Rigdon's church for a while, then denounced Rigdon and followed Brigham Young's church;
then he joined Strang's church, then he joined the Thompson church, then he follows John
E. Page's church, then he joined the Reorganized church, ordained young Joseph and died in
the New Organization. For proof of the above see Mill Star, Vol. 22, page 631; Times and
Seasons, Vol. 10, page 115; Gospel Herald, Vol. 5, page 17; Ch. Hist., Vol. 3, pages
721-726.
Surely this man, after being prominent in seven different
warring factions of the Mormon church, should be considered a member of the Mormon
Church and should understand Mormonism well enough to ordain young Joseph the head of the
youngest child of Mormonism-The Reorganized Mormon Church.
Now, in conclusion, let us summarize the above paper:
We have shown that the present high priest of Mormonism in
Toronto, with others, has denied that the church is the Mormon church and that its faith
should be called Mormonism, and to expose these deceivers who are making lies their
refuge, I have proven by their own church histories that from the organization of the
first church in 1830, through all the conflicting warring family, they have called
themselves Mormons, and the faith of the church Mormonism, calling to bear
witness the leaders such as Joseph Smith the founder, Emma Smith, his wife, Lucy Smith,
his mother, Joseph Smith his son and prophet of the Reorganized church, and many other
leaders, all testifying that the church is the Mormon church and the faith there of is
Mormonism. I commend those who love and make a lie to the tender mercies of a discerning
public.
[page 85] J. Smith said, "Hell may pour forth its
rage like the burning lava of Mt. Vesuvius, or of Etna, or of the most terrible of the
burning mountains, and yet shall Mormonism stand; water, fire, truth and God are
all the same, Truth is Mormonism, God is the author of it." Mill Star, Vol.
17, page 56.
"I am your friend, and shall sustain your present
position as the lawful head and leader of the Mormon Church." Uncle William
Smith, to his nephew, Joseph Smith. Herald, Vol. 1, Page 172.
Baptism For The Dead.
The claim made by Joseph Smith, and accepted by his followers
is susceptible to but one interpretation and conclusion, in regard to the professed
mouthings of Smith being the very words of Christ, and therefore binding upon the people,
blessing following those who obey and cursing following those who disobey, is clearly
announced.
We are commanded to accept Joseph Smith as a seer,
translator, prophet, Apostle and Elder. He has been inspired by the Almighty to lay the
foundation of the church and build it up in the faith by direct command of Jesus Christ,
and because of all this, Christ is supposed to command the church through Smith as
follows: "Therefore meaning the church, Thou shalt give head unto all His words
and commandments, which he shall give unto you-for his words ye shall receive as if
from mine own mouth." D.C. 19, 1-2.
"And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none
other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken,
if he (Joseph Smith) abide in me." D. C. 43, 1-2.
"And it shall be given thee in the very moment, what
thou shalt speak and write, and they shall hear it, or I will send them a cursing instead
of a blessing." D. C. 23, 3.
"No one shall be appointed to receive commandments
and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith - and thou shalt be
obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him." D. C. 27-2.
"Therefore, inasmuch as some of my servants have not
kept the commandments but have broken the covenant, I have cursed them with a very sore
and grievous curse, for I the Lord have decreed in my heart, that inasmuch as any man
belonging to the order shall be found a transgress or in other words shall break the
covenant with which ye are bound, he shall be cursed in this life and shall be
trodden down by whom I will." D. C. 101, 1.
Speaking of those who become the enemies of Smith and who
reject his revelations and refuse to submit to his commandments the Lord is made to say,
"Ye shall curse them and whomsoever ye curse I will curse, and ye shall
avenge me of my enemies." D. C. 100, 5.
Now this little paper will show that Joseph Smith received
revelations from Christ (or he lied) in which he commanded the people to be baptized
for the dead, and that they preached, believed and practiced this doctrine during
his life and that they still teach it and [page 86] print the said revelations in
their books, and the largest part of the church now practice it, and the facts show
that the little band calling themselves the Reorganized church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints still hold those revelations through Smith as from Christ, and still print them
in their books and are therefore inconsistent in not baptizing for the dead. Are they honest
or fair in their effort to deny their faith in that doctrine? Let the reader decide
when he reads the evidence given under oath in the City of Toronto in June, 1919.
In the Utah edition of the Doc. & Cov. section 110, we
are informed that Joseph Smith was in vision in the Kirtland Temple, April 3rd, 1836,
Jesus Christ appeared to him, after which Moses appeared to him and committed certain
keys, then Elias paid him a short visit, then came the prophet Elijah and handed Joseph
certain keys by which he was to be able to turn the hearts of the fathers, to the
children, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.
In the Reorganized church book of D. C. 110, Joseph Smith
takes up the subject of baptism for the dead and makes argument in its favor quoting the
same Elijah as referred to in the Utah edition, showing clearly that several Angels
appeared to him and that the subject of baptism for the dead is the most important matter
for the church to attend to, in order to save the dead as well as the living. He makes
claim there and also in section 109, that this commandment to baptize for the dead was
imparted to him by revelation and again through Angels, and the Reorganized church
believes and teaches those revelations to be from God, and yet Bishop McGuire, strongly
denied under oath that they believed in that doctrine and blamed the Utah Mormons for it.
Can it be possible that McGuire was making lies his refuge, in this case, while in
the court under oath, but to the revelations in their own book of covenants with which he
was confronted and by, which he stands exposed,. in a very undesirable way.
"Behold I command all ye my saints to build a house
unto me, and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me and during this
time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me, but behold at the end of this appointment
your baptism for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me and if you do not these things
at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith
the Lord your God, for verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to
build a house unto me wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth and
for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptism
for the dead cannot be acceptable unto me, for therein are the keys of the holy
priesthood ordained that you may receive glory and honor."
The revelation is a long one, and filled with this
doctrine and commandment to build a house in which a fount is to be built in which the
living are to be baptized for the dead, and it closes with the most fearful curses if they
are slothful and the house and fount are not built at a certain time. The Lord told Smith
he would pour out cursings, wrath and indignations and judgments upon their heads, and the
church would [page87] not be recognized any longer by him, but the church and their dead
would be rejected. Doc. and Cov., 107, 1-16.
The church baptized for their dead in the Mississippi
river till the fount was completed. It was built in the Nauvoo Temple and was a most
wonderful piece of art, twelve great wooden oxen upheld the font, but the temple was not
completed according to the revelation, and the Reorganized church takes the position that
in consequence of their polygamy and many other crimes, God rejected the church with their
dead, while the Utah church claims the Temple was completed so far as to admit the baptism
font to be used for the baptism for the dead and that they received their different
washings and baptisms and sealing of wives in the temple, and that they have gone on
according to Joseph Smith, in polygamy, sealing wives to dead men and baptism for the dead
and that in baptism for the dead and polygamy and all the rest of the doctrines,
revelations and commandments given by God to Joseph Smith that they have followed him
closely to prove this I quote from a work published by one of their leading ministers, B.
H. Roberts. Pages 109-110.
"The phase of the great Latter Day Work which seemed
most to occupy the attention of the prophet Joseph Smith in the last year of his life, was
that which relates to the salvation of the dead. Elijah had visited him in Kirtland
Temple and had restored the keys of the priesthood which turn the hearts of the fathers to
the children and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a
curse. No wonder that this matter occupied his mind when the keys for the salvation of the
dead were placed in his hands. The earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a
welding upon some subject or other, and behold what is that subject? It is baptism for
the dead."
He then proceeds to show a list of the work done by the
Utah Mormon church in keeping with the revelations and commandments given by Joseph Smith,
performed in the Temples of St. George, Logan, Manti and Salt Lake City. Read these
appalling statistics.
- Total number of baptisms for the dead, 683,377.
- Total ordinations of priesthood for the dead, 120,232.
- Of endowments, 300,511.
Let the readers read this awful work:
Of sealing, including wives and husbands, children to
parents(three temples only reporting), 69,749.
Those appalling figures published by the saints themselves
in their own books, should tell the people what kind of a prophet Joseph Smith was, and
what kind of Christianity they believe and practice.
The Reorganized church does not practice these things now,
but why? Is it because they do not believe in it? No, they do believe it and will practice
it when they decide the proper time and place arrives. In proof of this, hear their
historian and most able man in the Reorganized church. "Baptism for the dead is only
legal and acceptable when performed either in Zion or her stakes, or in Jerusalem and in a
house dedicated to and accepted by God." The Succession in Church Pres., by H. C.
Smith, page 95.
[page 88] This book is published by the Reorganized church
of which presiding Bishop B. R. McGuire is president of that very board of publication.
What will honest Latter Day Saints think of their presiding Bishop when under oath denied
their faith in baptism for the dead? Will you continue to follow him and other leaders of
the Mormon church, or will you become convinced of your error and like Bishop Evans leave
the unclean thing that is making lies their refuge.
The readers will see that Smith of the Reorganized church
acknowledges baptism for the dead to be a doctrine of Jesus Christ, but he objects to
these baptisms taking place in Utah. He says they must only be performed "In Zion or
her stakes or Jerusalem and in a house dedicated and accepted by God." That is to say
Zion is the State of Missouri, she has a stake in the state of Iowa, but the Temple that
is to be erected in independence, Mo., in this generation, wherein Christ is to bless his
saints, is not yet erected. When Christ comes to Independence, Mo., or tells Frederick M.
Smith to build the temple for His coming, then the Reorganized church will baptize for the
dead, as Joseph Smith did and as their revelations command them to do and the misleading
statements made under oath and under other conditions by those who believe and preach
and sell those revelations commanding this practice of baptism for the dead is to be
denounced by every right thinking person.
We may and should pity those who are honestly deceived by
the lying wonder of the Latter Days Mormonism, but there is no excuse for their leaders
who promulgate those damnable heresies in secret and deny them when under oath or before
the public.
Herewith I submit part of the evidence given by Bishop
McGuire at the Toronto trial, May and June, 1919, questions propounded by the lawyers and
his replies:
Q. "What about the baptism for the dead? A. Baptism
for the dead has never been taught by the Reorganization.
Q. Is that a doctrine of the Utah Mormons? A. It is a
doctrine of the Utah Mormons. They make the pleas that we are not orthodox because we do
not teach baptism for the dead."
Under cross examination many of the revelations published
by the Reorganized church as coming from Christ to Joseph Smith were read to him, he
knowing that his church accepted them as from God, and that he was the presiding Bishop of
that Church and president of the board of publication that publishes them. When the lawyer
concluded reading the revelations, he said: "Was that present in your mind when you
did this swearing you did a little while ago that baptism for the dead was not one of the
cardinal doctrines of your church?" McGuire answered: "It is not a cardinal
teaching of the church and has not been." Q. And you still say so in the teeth of
the book? A. Yes." Court evidence, pages 729 and 756.
Will any honest man read the revelations given in the
doctrine and covenants regarding baptism for the dead, and the position taken by the
historian of the church, and the evidence of Bishop McGuire and then [page 89] say that
man swore "To the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth ?"
The Prophetic Revelations of Joseph Smith Proved False
By His Own People, While They Followed Him They Were Comrades of Angels, But as Soon As
They Denounced Him They Were Guilty of Most Every Crime.
We will present the three witnesses to the Book of
Mormon. According to Mormon history, they handled the gold plates, heard the voice of God,
conversed with Angels, were high priests and apostles and church presidents. They
all left the church in a few years, denouncing Smith as being guilty of most every crime
thinkable, and in return he and the church have denounced them, and charged them with most
every sin.
Testimony of Joseph Smith and the Church Authorities of
the Three Witnesses to The Book of Mormon.
"After Oliver Cowdery had been taken by a State warrant
for stealing, the stolen property was found in the house of W. W. Phelps."
"The saints elected Cowdery to be a justice of the
Peace. He used the power of that office to take their most sacred rights from them. He
supported a parcel of backlogs. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Layman E. Johnson united
with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars and backlogs of the deepest dye, to deceive,
cheat and defraud the saints out of their property. During the full career of
Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer's bogus money business it got abroad that they were
engaged in it, they fled to Far West, Cowdery stealing property and taking it with him.
The property was later obtained by means of a search warrant, and he was saved from the
penitentiary by the influence of two influential men. He brought notes with him upon
which be had received pay, and made an attempt to sell them to Mr. Arthur of Clay Co.
This is signed by more than eighty Mormons, and is found
in "Documents in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons, Missouri Legislature,
1841, page 103. Written by Sidney Rigdon. Inn, Story of the Mormons, pages 81-82; La Rue,
page 76.
April 1838, Oliver Cowdery was tried on nine charges
before the High Council. He was found guilty of six of them, viz., urging vexatious law
suits against the brethren; accusing the Prophet Joseph of adultery; disgracing the church
by being connected with the bogus (counterfeiting) business; retaining notes after they
had been paid, and forsaking the cause of God. On this find he was expelled from the
church. Two days later David Whitmer was found guilty of unchristianlike conduct, and
defaming the prophet, and was expelled. Layman E. Johnson, Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hide
of the Twelve were expelled. Cowdery and Whitmer fled on horseback for their lives. Elders
Journal July 1838. Mill Star, Vol. 16, pages 130-134; Missouri Legislature, 1841.,C. H.
Vol. 2, page 150.
[page 90] Joseph writing of David Whitmer, during the
Missouri trouble, said: "W. W. Phelps, who professes to be much of a prophet has no
other dumb ass to ride but David Whitmer, or to forbid his madness when he goes up to
curse Israel, but this riot being of the same kind as Balsam's, therefore, notwithstanding
the angel appeared unto him, yet he could not sufficiently penetrate his understanding,
but that he brays out cursings instead of blessings." Times and Seasons, Vol. 1, page
82: Inn. 215.
Joseph Smith on Martin Harris-"There are Negroes who
wear white skins as well as black ones, Granny Parish and others who acted as lackeys such
as Martin Harris." Elders Journal, July, 1837.
When Martin Harris left the church, or was cut off, he in
time joined the Strangles and was sent to England to preach the Staring doctrine, and was
severely denounced as a very wicked man, as stated in Revelation regarding him in D. C.
Sect. 5 and 18. Mill. Star, Vol. 18, page 12,5.
Martin Harris is so far beneath contempt that a notice of
him would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make. The church exerted some
restraint on him, but now he has given loose to all kinds of abominations, lying, cheating
and swindling with all kinds of debauchery." Joseph Smith in Elders' journal, August,
1838.
Joseph Smith says that Christ told him to tell Harris the
following: "And again I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife,
nor seek thy neighbor's life-thou shalt not covet thine own property but impart it freely
to the printing of the Book of Mormon." D. C. 18, 3.
The wife of Martin Harris accused him of being intimate
with a Mrs. Haggard, and testifies that Harris used to beat her." Shook, True Origin
of Book of Mormon, pages 46-47.
Much more could be presented from the Mormons themselves,
to say nothing of those not of the faith, to show that these three men were very vile,
wicked and unreliable, yet they are, according to Mormon history, the THREE WITNESSES
raised up by the Lord to testify to the world, that God spoke to them, angels talked to
them and they saw and handled the gold plates of the Book of Mormon.
Such characters as McAllen, John Whitmer, David Whitmer,
Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris are too mean to be mentioned and we would like to have
forgotten them.
Marsh and another whose hearts are full of corruption,
whose cloak of hypocrisy was not sufficient to shield them." Mill Star, Vol. 16,
pages 626-628.
It may be stated that the very worst that Smith could say
about them, can't be any worse than they have written against Smith. They accused him of
adultery, concubine, polygamy, murder, lying and most everything that is low, mean and
criminal, and it looks like as if all three witnesses were telling the truth about Smith,
and lie about them.
Sidney Rigdon.
[page 91] Sidney Rigdon has been considered by many as
the real author of Mormonism. He was Smith's first counsellor. They had visions together,
talked to the Lord and angels together, sat in the presidential councils together, were in
Zion's Camp together, assisted Smith to translate the Bible, dedicated the Kirtland
Temple and the Independence Temple Lot, were sentenced to be shot together, was nominated
as Vice President of the United States, when Smith was presented as President of the
United States. Smith was unwilling to sustain him as counsellor in 1843 and Rigdon was
soon advertised as one weak in the faith.
Rigdon testified that Smith tried to seduce his daughter
Nancy Rigdon. Her brother testifies to this dastardly crime, and J. C. Bennett and others
support the story. Shooks True Origin of Polygamy, pages 62-67.
After Rigdon left the church he printed a paper in which I
find the following: "Joseph Smith departed from the Living God and like David
and Solomon he contracted a whoring spirit and the Lord smote him for this thing, and cut
him off from the earth." Messenger and Advocate, Jan. 1, 1845, page 75.
William Law.
William Law was counsellor to President Smith and one of
the first presidency. The Lord, through Smith, spake to this man saying: "Let my
servant William Law, also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive
blessings; he shall heal the sick; he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from
those who would administer to him deadly poison, and be shall be led in paths where the
poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his heel, and what if I will that he shall raise
the dead, let him not withhold his voice." D. C. Sect. 107, page 30.
Law left the church, lost thousands of dollars in
property, had to escape for his life. He denounced Smith as a drunkard, liar, rascal,
polygamist. Says Hyrum let him read the revelation on polygamy, that he showed it
to his wife, then went to Joseph with it and Joseph told him it was of the Lord, said
Joseph offered to furnish Emma, his own wife with a substitute for him by way of
compensation for his neglect of her, in a word he denounced Smith as a rascal of
the blackest dye. W. Law's Letters to Weekly Tribune of Salt Lake City, Aug. 4, 1887: also
Dr. Wyl's Letter from Law.
Brigham Young was made an Apostle and President of
his Quorum and was given many rich blessings. Here is a sample: "The holy priesthood
is conferred upon him that he may do wonders in the name of Jesus, that he may cast out
devils, heal the sick, and raise the dead, open the eyes of the blind-heathen
nations shall call him God Himself, if he do not rebuke them." Mill. Star, Vol. 15,
pages 206, 207. LaRue, page 30.
Yet it is admitted that this man became the scourge of the
earth. History claims that he taught and sanctioned polygamy, concubinage, murder and all
kinds of sin and crime, and presided over the Utah Mormon Church.
Lyman E. Johnson
[page 92] Lyman E. Johnson was given many blessings as
well as the Apostleship. "No power of the enemy shall prevent him from going forth
and doing the work of the Lord, and he shall live until the gathering is accomplished. He
shall see the Saviour come and stand upon the earth with power and great
glory." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, pages 206-207; LaRue, page 30.
A short time after this wonderful prophecy, Joseph Smith
and others accuse him with others of being united with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves,
liars and blacklegs of the deepest dye." Linn. pages 81-82.
He was cut off the church and was drowned in 1856.
LaRue, page 30.
Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde-"He shall stand on earth and bring souls
till Christ comes; he shall have power to smite the earth with pestilence, to divide the
water and lead through the saints." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, page 207.
Thomas B. Marsh, was made president of the Twelve
Apostles, promised that he should be a mighty man among the nations of the earth. D. C.
105.
Now let us see what Joseph Smith wrote of Apostles Hyde
and Marsh when in 1838 they left the church and denounced him as about everything
that is criminal. Smith says: "Thomas B. Marsh, formerly president of the
Twelve, having apostatized, repaired to Richmond and made affidavit before Henry Jacobs,
Justice of the Peace, to all the vilest calumies, aspersions, lies and slanders toward
myself and the church that his wicked heart could invent. Orson Hyde was also at
Richmond and testified to most of Marsh's statements. Ch. Hist.,.Vol. 2, pages 212-214,
359.
David Patten-"May have power to smite
his enemies before him with utter destruction, may he continue till the Lord comes."
Mill. Star, Vol. 15, pages 206-207. LaRue, page 30.
As one of Smith's Danites in a fight in Missouri,
he was killed. Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, page 649.
William Smith.
William Smith - "He shall be preserved and remain on
earth until Christ comes to take vengeance on the wicked." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, pages
206-207.
This apostolic brother of the prophet was a drunkard.
He fought and whipped the prophet, denied the revelations given through Joseph, was a
polygamist with three wives and is long since dead. Life of Joseph by Tullidge, page 577.
Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, pages 592-3, 614, 620-1.
J. C.Bennett.
J.C. Bennett drafted the bill of incorporation of City of
Nauvoo, was mayor of city, major-general of Nauvoo Legion. Smith's revelations to him
promised that he would be like Paul, see visions, be a patriarch,[page 93] was president
of church for a time with Smith; was to have power over wind and waves." Times
and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 387. D. C. 107. Shook on Polygamy, 46-52.
This Bennett declared that he never believed in Mormonism,
just joined the church to get into the secrets, accused Smith of polygamy, adultery,
hiring him to commit abortion upon his young victims; tells that Smith offered him the
best lot of ground on Front St., Nauvoo, and five hundred dollars if he would
secure Nancy Rigdon for his wife, Danites, etc. Shook on Polygamy, 46-59.
Warren Parrish.
Warren Parrish-"Verily thus saith the Lord, my
servant Warren Parrish, behold it shall come to pass in his day that he shall see great
things show forth themselves unto my people, he shall see much of my ancient records and
shall be endowed with knowledge of hidden languages. Behold the Lord's scribe for the
Lord's seer." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, page 424.
This man left the church after writing Smith's daily
journal and early history. He saw and heard so much that he became one of the most
powerful enemies of the prophet. LaRue, pages 108-9.
Bishop John Corrill.
Bishop John Corrill organized the counsellors of the
church in Missouri, was a great preacher and missionary. D. C. 108, 3, 50, 8, 52, 3.
This man left the church and declares that he left the
church because he believed the Bible, and shows that for six years he followed Smith and
became convinced that he was a false prophet, and that he led the church into crime, that
Smith promised in the name of the Lord that he would lead them to victory, that the clay
was their own, when in less than a week you were all made prisoners of war and would have
been exterminated had it not been for the exertions of deserters. LaRue pages 34-36,
Corrill History, page 48.
Missouri Army.
Joseph Smith formed an army to go to Missouri and make war
and win that country for his people. They filled their wagons with swords, guns and
munitions of war. They formed a munitions factory where they made swords, dirks, pistols.
Smith had a bodyguard, the Lord gave promise of certain victory, but cholera came and many
died, and the Missourians came upon them and they were scattered, and some made Prisoners.
The entire army scheme fell through. This was in 1834, see Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, 456-487;
LaRue, page 35, 180-184; D. C. Sect. 100.
The Nauvoo House was built by command of God. Smith and
other men were commanded not to put more than fifteen thousand dollars worth of shares
into it. It was called the Lord's boarding house. Smith and his posterity were to have
place in that house from generation to generation. It shall be called the Nauvoo
House. In the same revelation [page 94] a great temple was to be erected. The kings
of the nations were commanded to bring their gold and silver. The set time to favor Zion
had come, baptism for the dead and other mysterious ceremonies were to be performed
therein. D. C. 107, LaRue, pages 106-7.
The Nauvoo House
The Nauvoo House was erected, but those who paid their money
were robbed and the Mormons, because of their sins, were driven away and Smith shot, and
the revelation proved a failure. The Temple was erected, the Re-organized Mormons
say it was never completed; the Utah Mormons say it was,. and the Mormon press shows that
it was, and that the Reorganizers are lying about it, as the following will show:
"Dedication of the Temple of God in the City of Nauvoo." "This splendid
edifice is now completed and will be dedicated to the Most High God on Friday the
last day of May, 1846. Tickets may be had at the Watch House, near the door of the Temple,
at One Dollar each." Hancock Eagle, April 10, 1846, LaRue, page 106.
The Nauvoo House stands a wreck and the Temple was
destroyed and the Mormons driven out because of their sins.
The Coming of Christ
Smith had a revelation regarding the Saints going to redeem
Zion, in which he said: "They should ordain the ministry to go forth and prune the
vineyard for the last time for the coming of the Lord was nigh, even Fifty Six Years should
wind up the scene." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, page 205.
"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time
of the coming of the Son of Man when I heard a voice repeating the following:
"Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see
the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice and trouble me no more on this
matter. LaRue, page 52; Mill. Star, Vol. 20, page 728.
Joseph was born Dec. 23rd, 1805, so if Christ told him the
above yarn then He should have come in 1900. Comment is unnecessary.
Slavery Advocated By Joseph Smith.
Most of the Mormons will tell you that Joseph Smith opposed
slavery. Let his own words judge him as published by himself.
"If slavery is an evil who could we expect
should first learn it? Would the people of the Free States or would the Slave States? All
must admit that the latter would first learn this fact. It is my privilege then to name
certain passages from the Bible and examine the teachings of the ancients upon the matter,
as the fact is inconvertible, that the first mention we have of slavery is found in the
Holy Bible, pronounced by a man who was perfect in his generation, and walked with God.
And so far from that prediction being averse from the mind of God, it remains as a lasting
monument to the decree of Jehovah to the shame and confusion of all who have cried against
the South, in consequence of their holding the sons of Ham in servitude, and he said:
"Cursed [page 95] be Canaan, a servant of servants shall be he unto his
brethren." "Blessed be the Lord of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant."
The curse is not taken off the sons of Canaan. The scripture stands for itself and I
believe that these men were better qualified to teach the will of God than the
abolitionists in the world. Mill Star, Vol. 15, pages 739-741. LaRue, page 27.
Question 13th - Are the Mormons abolitionists?
Answer-No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft and the priests from the power of
Satan, should be considered such-but we do not believe in setting the negro free."
Elders' Journal, 1838. LaRue, page 28.
Revelation on War Given Dec. 25th, 1832.
Read it as found in D. C. 132, in edition of 1913.
Bays, pages 424-434.
If this revelation was given regarding the Rebellion of
South Carolina in November, 1832, as it most assuredly was, then not one word of it came
to pass, but if it referred to the rebellion of 1861, then but the first two propositions
were even remotely guessed at correctly, the other ten events predicted never came to
pass.
1.South Carolina rebelled. 2. Southern States called on
Great Britain. 3. No slave ever rose against his master. 4. Britain did not become
involved, and did not call on other nations. 5. No alliances with great powers were
formed. 6. War was not poured out on all nations immediately following the rebellion of
South Carolina. 7. The remnants of the land, the Southern armies, did not vex the Gentiles
with a sore vexation. 8. The saint was to stand in holy places-they were driven from
Missouri. 9. The nations have not been destroyed, not even poor old Turkey. 10. The Lord
has not taken vengeance upon the ungodly any more since than before the war.
This revelation was said to have been given December 25th,
1832, but not a word was said till it was published in England in 1851. The Doc.
and Cov. was published in 1835, not a word of this prophecy.
But it was not a revelation for another reason. The fact
as to a rebellion in South Carolina was openly discussed both in Mormon and other papers
before the prophecy was given and all the nation looked for some such event occurring, as
the following historical reports show.
Joseph Smith's Prophecy on The Rebellion and The War of 1860-4.
If Smith had the prophecy it was not published to the
world till after he was dead seven years, and nineteen years after Smith is said to have
made it. In 1851 when it was first published it required no prophet to predict a war
between North and South Carolina, but the fact of waiting nineteen years before publishing
such a prophecy shows that Smith was either afraid it might not come to pass, or else it
was a forgery of 1851 that Smith had nothing to do with.
[page 96] Slavery was first introduced into the United
States in 1619 when twenty Negroes were sold by a Dutch trader to the colonists. Barnes
U.S. Hist., page 50.
Eleven years before Smith's prophecy there was a
discussion as to whether Missouri would be a free or a slave state. Ibid. 172-3.
"The Protective Tariff Bill passed in 1832 was very
distasteful to South Carolina and she declared the law unconstitutional within her
boundaries, this became known as the Nullification Act. Students' Ency., page 579.
"A convention assembled in South Carolina in 1832
declared the Acts of 1828 and 1832 to be unconstitutional, and that attempts to enforce
them otherwise than through civil tribunals would be resisted by the citizens of South
Carolina, and would be deemed inconsistent with longer continuance of South Carolina in
the Union, and that the people of the state would hold themselves absolved from all
obligations to maintain or preserve their political connection with the people of other
states, and would forthwith proceed to establish an independent government and do all the
rights that sovereign states have the right to do. Life of Jackson, by Jenkins, page 263.
If Smith had the prophecy that year was it wonderful?
To cap the climax of Joseph's impudence, a few days after
he professes to have the above revelation, he published in the church paper called
"The Evening and Morning Star," for Jan., 1833, about every item as found in the
so-called prophecy, the cholera spreading over the whole earth, the plague breaking out in
India, the desolution of South Carolina from the Union, the gathering of Saints to
Zion, and adds: "South Carolina has rebelled against the United States." Held
a state convention, and passed ordinances the same as declaring herself an independent
nation, and more than all "Resolved that this convention do recommend to the people
of South Carolina the observance of 31st day of January next as a day of fasting
humiliation and prayer on which they are invited to implore the blessings of Almighty God
on the efforts that are made to restore liberty and happiness to our beloved state. He
adds "General Jackson has ordered several companies of artillery to Charleston and
issued a proclamation urging submission and declaring such moves as that of South Carolina
treason.
So we have it that about the same time that all this was
going on, Smith is said to have had the prophecy, that was not published for many years
afterwards, and worst of all was not presented for the adoption of the church but it
remained in secret like the revelation on polygamy, as claimed by so many.
Joseph Smith Was Not a Temperance Advocate.
"We then partook of some refreshments and our hearts
were made glad with the fruit of the vine. This is according to the pattern set by the
Saviour Himself, and we felt disposed to patronize all the institutions of heaven - - I
took,my mother and Aunt Clarissa in a carriage and accompanied them to Painsville, where
we procured a bottle of wine, [page 97] broke bread, ate and drank and parted,
after the ancient order with the blessing of God." Mill. Star, Vol. 15, pages 583 and
744. LaRue, page 57.
Speaking of a meeting in Kirtland Temple, he describes how
they washed their feet, prophesied curses upon Missouri. They sent messengers for bread
and wine and continued having a good time all night. Mill. Star, Vol. 15 page 727.
Speaking of the drinking habit, in the city of Saints the
prophet wrote" I told Theodore Turley that I had no objection to his building a
brewery." The brewery was erected and its goods advertised as follows: "Whiskey,
beer and cider barrels taken in exchange for beer and ale." Mill. Star, Vol. 20, page
647, and Nauvoo Neighbor, April 10. 1844.
Later we hear what became of this brewery and the temples
of the Lord upon which so many prophecies had been delivered.
In the Hancock Eagle, May 29th, 1846, notice is given by
one Abram Van Tuyl, to the effect that he has taken over the property of the "boarding
House and fitted it up for a hotel." This was to be the great home of the prophet
and his posterity from generation to generation.
In the issue of the same paper for June 26th, 1846,
three advertisements appear authorized by the officers of the church, the Temple of
Kirtland, Ohio, the Temple of Nauvoo, and the Brewery at Nauvoo for sale. Here is the
great advocate of Temperance, selling his brewery and his two great Temples in which the
people were to receive such great blessings.
William Law, and other leading men affirm that Smith was a
drunkard. Law Letters, 1887.
The same hour that Smith was shot to death, their own
history chews that Joseph gave the guards money to buy wine, pipes and two papers of
tobacco, and that Smith with the others drank. Joseph the Prophet, pages 522-523.
What a sacred scene, the holy Prophet's last hour spent
drinking, smoking and killing two men and shooting the arm off a third and trying to kill
three others by firing at them, but his gun missed fire. Was he prepared to meet God under
such conditions? Journal of Hist., page 410, October, 1918.
Chapter 6:
Book of Abraham
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