The Proper Name of the Church

The Proper Name of the Church

_______________ 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 purported 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.

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 vacillating 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,Doctrine and Covenants, 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.

"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 harmonizing 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 should or should not have anything to do with Mormonism." Ibid., page 762.

Speaking of Nauvoo and the County of Hancock, 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.

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."Doctrine and Covenants19:1-2.

"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."Doctrine and Covenants43:1-2.

"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."Doctrine and Covenants23:3.

"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."Doctrine and Covenants27-2.

"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."Doctrine and Covenants101:1.

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."Doctrine and Covenants100:5.

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 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 ofDoctrine and Covenants110: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 not be recognized any longer by him, but the church and their dead would be rejected.Doctrine and Covenants107:1-16. 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. 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 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 he 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.

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 inDoctrine and CovenantsSect. 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."Doctrine and Covenants18:3. 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 he about them.

Sidney Rigdon.

Sidney Rigdon has been considered by many as the real author of Mormonism. He was Smith’s first counselor. 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 counselor 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. Shook’s 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 counselor 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."Doctrine and CovenantsSect. 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

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.Doctrine and Covenants105.

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 calumnies, 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, was president of church for a time with Smith; was to have power over wind and waves." Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 387.Doctrine and Covenants107. 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 counselors of the church in Missouri, was a great preacher and missionary.Doctrine and Covenants108:3, 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;Doctrine and CovenantsSect. 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 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.Doctrine and Covenants107: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 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 inDoctrine and Covenants132: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.

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, 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 VI.