Mormonism Against the World

Mormonism Against the World

_______________ There Are But Two Churches In Mormon theology there are but two churches, one is the church of Christ, the other the church of the Devil. In proof of this, I will quote from the standard books of Mormonism and the leaders of that body.

Hypocritical priests of Mormonism sometimes deny this and attempt to curry favor from the press and pulpit of Christianity, but it is only when they wish a favor of some kind, or desire to make inroads upon the gullibility of the people. But to the proof:

"Behold, there is, save it be Two Churches: the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the Devil. Wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth." Book of Mormon, page 40, First Nephi, 3 ch., v. 220-223. In the first revelation published in the book known as the Doctrine and Covenants, Jesus Christ when speaking to Joseph Smith, is reported to have said, speaking of the Mormon church, as, "The only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased."Doctrine and Covenants1-5.

Orson Pratt, the most eloquent Apostle, and the greatest writer of Mormonism, says: "Since the church with its authority and power has been caught away from the earth, the great Mother of Harlots, with all her descendants, has blasphemously assumed authority of administering some of the sacred ordinances of the gospel." Revelation Necessary, by O. Pratt. To this may be added the statement made by Apostle W. H. Kelley, President of the Apostolic Quorum of the Reorganized Church: "The priesthood having been caught up to heaven, no man on earth has authority to minister in gospel ordinances, and hence the necessity for new revelation." Presidency and Priesthood, page 224.

We could fill a large volume in support of the above positions, but let it be sufficient for me to say, that the position taken by the Mormon church of every stripe, is, that the church as established by Christ fell into apostasy, lost the priesthood, or authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances of the church, and that the Roman Catholic Church is the Mother of Harlots, and the Protestant churches are her daughters, all imposters devoid of priesthood authority, and hence form the Church of the Devil, while Joseph Smith and others have been called of God by direct revelation from heaven and some of them have been ordained by Angels to administer the gospel and work the works of God, as directed by direct revelation.

God and Christ Visit Joseph Smith. In support of this I quote the first vision that Joseph Smith professed to have: "He got religion" and went to pray under the shadows of a great tree in the rear of his father’s farm, when he had offered what he called his "first audible prayer," he declares that God came down from heaven and brought Jesus with him, and when God introduced Jesus to Joseph, be seems to have lapsed into silence and Joseph at once asked Jesus which of all the sects was right, and Christ is reported to have answered: "The churches are all wrong, their creeds are an abomination before me, and their professors are all corrupt." See Church History Vol. 1, page 10. And from that day to this Mormonism has denounced every church on the earth as corrupt, drawing near God with their lips but having their hearts far from him. In a word, those men and women who have sacrificed their lives to tell the heathen world of Jesus and His love, are a combination of hypocrites. And every mother who, in the dimming shadows of eventide hath gathered her children around her knee and taught them "Gentle Jesus" or "Our Father" has been guilty of deception toward their little ones, only "drawing near God with their lips while their hearts were far from him," and so the world has been filled with this Mormon delusion and many thousands have believed it, and the time has come that liberty has come to us and we hope to say something that will help the world to know Mormonism as it really is, and that for the good of the deluded Mormons, as well as those who stand in jeopardy from their deceptions.

Reorganized Mormons Deny That God and Christ Appeared to Joseph Smith

Before we leave this angel matter and the different stories concerning it, let us draw the readers’ attention to the conflicting accounts of the first heavenly message Smith is supposed to receive. The Reorganized Mormons in the last few years are ashamed of this lying story by which Christ is made to denounce every honest man in all the Christian churches as vile hypocrites, and the churches as abomination in his sight, and they, misrepresented this vision and, when writing the last history, they tell it so differently that no one would think it was the same place or occasion. The visit of God and Christ is entirely expunged from the story and four times in the first page, we are told that it was an Angel who came to Smith. It starts out as follows: "The history of the church begins with the visit of an Angel to a young man named Joseph Smith. The angel came to him while he was out in the woods praying aloud," and what was said is misrepresented in an inexcusable manner. Surely Mormonism has made lies their refuge. See Young Peoples’ History of Church, Vol. 1, page 1.

John the Baptist Ordained Smith and Cowdery. The general claim made by Mormonism is that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were called of God to the Aaronic priesthood by an Angel, who said he was John the Baptist; that this Angel ordained them by the laying on of hands, and thus the Aaronic priesthood was restored to earth May 15th, 1829. Tullidge Hist., page 43,Church History, Vol.1, page 34. With regard to this ordination by John the Baptist, Oliver Cowdery, a few years after, when he left the church and denounced Joseph Smith, as guilty of most every kind of sin, including murder, says "Smith held a mysterious power over him, tried to destroy his life, and that the voice of the Angel who claimed to be John the Baptist was strikingly similar with the voice of Sidney Rigdon (this is a mild way of telling the world that the Angel who ordained Smith and himself was none other than Sidney Rigdon). This statement was made by Cowdery and published by him in Norton, Ohio, in 1839. Shook’s Origin of Book of Mormon pages 49-54.

Baptized Each Other -- Holy Ghost Before Ordination or Confirmation.

Having learned from the Mormon authorities that there is no true church on earth save the Mormon church, and that that is the true church because their ministers are called to the priesthood by direct revelation from God to preach, baptize for the remission of sins, and confirm those baptized by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost; this brings sinners to Christ and adopts them into the church and Kingdom of God, and outside this organization there is no true church. Now, let us look at the inconsistency and deception of Mormonism.

First let me show that according to Joseph Smith’s own story, while he and Oliver Cowdery were translating the Book of Mormon they came to a place which showed them that water baptism was for the remission of sins. They went to the woods to pray, when John the Baptist as an Angel, came down from heaven, laid his hand upon them and ordained them to the Aaronic priesthood. He commanded them to go and baptize each other. Smith baptized Cowdery and Cowdery baptized Smith, then Smith ordained Cowdery to the Aaronic priesthood, and afterwards Cowdery ordained Smith to the Aaronic priesthood. These ordinations were performed by the laying on of hands. The story continues, saying after they had baptized and ordained each other, the Holy Ghost fell upon them both immediately, so much so that both enjoyed the spirit of prophecy. Tullidge, Life of Joseph Smith, pages 43-44,Church HistoryVol. I, page 36. The reader will notice here that Smith and Cowdery placed little value on the ordination of the Angel, for they each ordained the other, but remember the ordination of each other did not take place till after they had baptized each other: in a word, if the Angelic ordination was of any value, why ordain each other. If of no value, then we have the two leading Mormons administering baptism before their ordination, and worse and more of it, Smith baptized Cowdery before he was baptized himself. But we are told that the Angel John told them "The Aaronic priesthood had not the power of laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this would be conferred upon them later, when three angels known as Peter, James and John would confer the Melchisedec priesthood upon them." Ibid., page 43. But wonders shall never cease. This Holy Ghost that could not come but by a Melchisedec priest laying on hands to impart it, has slipped out before this priesthood came and Joseph tells us here how the Holy Ghost came upon them as soon as they were baptized and they both delivered prophecies in great power.

Here then we have Mormonism starting by an unbaptized man baptizing another man, then being ordained by the same man, and receiving the Holy Ghost without the laying on of hands or confirmation. This story destroys Mormonism, and exposes its leading opposition against the Catholic and Protestant churches. But we proceed: Within a month of their baptism they had baptized Samuel Smith and Hyrum Smith (brothers of Joseph), and David and Peter Whitmer. They all received the Holy Ghost and obtained revelations from God direct. Yet remember, the great baptism of the Spirit, the gift of the Holy Ghost, could not then and cannot now, according to Mormon theology, be enjoyed until a Melchisedec priest lays hands upon you for the giving of that Holy Ghost. There was not yet a Melchisedec priest on the earth.

Ordained Elders Confirmed For Holy Ghost
Long After They Had It. The history shows that Joseph soon discovered that something had to be done, if they could receive direct communication with God, see and talk to Angels, have the Holy Ghost and prophecy, all without the Melchisedec priesthood, all without even an Elder, let alone Apostles and High Priests, why bother with them, but he must have this greater priesthood or the first Angel message of John the Baptist would be proved false, so he informs us that they betook themselves to prayer and the Lord told him to ordain Oliver Cowdery to be an Elder in the church of Jesus Christ, and that he should ordain me to the same office. They met, took bread and wine, ordained each other, and then laid their hands on the others whom they had previously baptized, for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Tullidge, page 73. The reader will see the farce. They ordained each other and confirmed all the others by laying on of the hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, when if they tell the truth they had the Holy Ghost long before the conferring of it.

We understand by the History of the Church, that the ordination of Cowdery and Smith to the Melchisedec priesthood took place April 6th, 1830, in Peter Whitmer’s house, the same day the church was organized with six members. Ibid, page 75,Doctrine and Covenants17:1. The reader will see that several were baptized, ordained Aaronic priests, received visits from Angels, enjoyed the gift of the Holy Ghost, saw visions, and spoke in prophecy, all before they were in possession of the Melchisedec priesthood, and had not organized the church. The day the Church was organized the two leaders were ordained Elders, and confirmed the others for the gift of the Holy Ghost, long after they had received it.

Smith and Cowdery Ordained by Peter, James and John.

Now, we are told that Joseph was commanded that day to ordain Cowdery an Elder, and Cowdery was to ordain Joseph an Elder, which they did on April 6th, 1830. But may we enquire, what about the promise of the Angel John the Baptist made, saying "Peter, James and John held the keys of the Melchisedec priesthood." Has Joseph been in too great a hurry, has he robbed these three Melchisedec Angels out of their job, by ordaining Oliver and having himself ordained by Oliver? No, Joseph has a way out of it, and so we turn to a revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants, Sect. 26, which looks like a frame-up: "Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ -- during a long revelation Christ says, "And also with Peter., James and John by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles and special witnesses of my name."

Cowdery speaking of this Angelic ordination says: "I was present with Joseph Smith when the Higher or Melchisedec priesthood was conferred by the Holy Angel from on high. This priesthood was then conferred on each other by the will and commandment of God."Church History, Vol. 1, page 64. Myth of Manuscript Found, page 80.

Joseph Smith tells us where this Angelic ordination took place, he says: "The voice of Peter, James and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County and Colesville, Broome County, on the Susquehanna River, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fullness of times."Doctrine and Covenants110:20. So the ordinations of Smith and Cowdery are about as big a mess as anything that has ever found its way into history. The Aaronic priesthood conferred by ordination under the hands of the Angel John the Baptist, but counted as a thing of naught, for Smith ordained Cowdery and Cowdery ordained Smith to this same priesthood. Then Peter, James and John ordain these same two men to the Melchisedec priesthood, and again they set this at naught and proceed to ordain each other. What would we think of the twelve apostles of Bible times after Jesus had ordained them and said: "Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you," John 15, 16, if they were to set that ordination aside and proceed to ordain each other again. So much for the Smith ordinations he and Cowdery knew well that the Angelic ordinations were invented by Smith. Cowdery as already referred to, admit in effect that the John the Baptist was Sidney Rigdon, the dark horse of Mormonism.

Pratt on Angelic Ordination.

Orson Pratt, perhaps the greatest Apostle of Mormonism, when writing of this Angelic ordination says: "Mr. Smith testifies that Peter, James and John came to him in the capacity of ministering angels and by the laying on of hands ordained him an apostle and commanded him to preach, baptize, lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost and administer all other ordinances of the gospel as they themselves did in ancient days." Divine Authority, page 4. Mill. Star, Vol. 1, 15, page 491.

Young Joseph Says No Angels Came.

We could fill a volume of Mormon statements regarding this angelic ordination, but shades of Smithanity, what will we do when we turn to the son of Joseph Smith, who, when writing the history of the church denies that Peter, James and John ever really came to ordain Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. After making a long article on the matter, he concludes by saving: "Nor is their any evidence that Peter, James and John were present either when the instruction was given to ordain, or when the ordination took place." Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, pages 64-65.

Here we have Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery showing that the Angel John the Baptist ordained them to the Aaronic priesthood, and told them that Peter, James and John would come to ordain them to the Melchisedec, then we have Cowdery telling that they did come, and we have Joseph Smith telling the spot on the Susquehanna River, then Pratt tells the same story, and then to expose the lie and try to bury it so that Mormonism will not be required to meet it any longer, we have young Joseph Smith, the prophet and successor, telling us... Taint so." We have Smith, Cowdery, Pratt and all Mormonism testifying to this Angelic ordination for eighty years, and we have the latest production of Mormonism in the form of Smith’s son denying it.

Ministry Must Be Called By Revelation.

Now let us leave these Angelic muddles and return to the call of the priesthood. The Mormon cry is and has ever been, "A man has no authority to preach, baptize or act as a Christian minister unless he has been called by God through a revelation given by the Holy Ghost or some Angel." This cannot be denied by any man in Mormonism; it is the most prominent and distinctive plea of every branch of Mormonism.

Now, we have seen that Smith’s story about John the Baptist and Peter, James and John, is contradicted by himself and others, and denied by his own son in regard to most of them. We have seen that under the direction of that same son a new history has been published that denies the visit of God and Christ to his father. Now let us see that the Mormons have not lived up to their own creed in regard to the call of the ministry by direct revelation.

Priests Not Called By God. The Mormon church baptized people as early as 1829, and the church was organized in 1830, yet no Apostles were chosen till 1835. So the church could and did exist without Apostles for five years. If that be true, why not forever? But when they were called surely after all the business with God, Christ, Angels and the Holy Ghost, and the great denunciation of all churches ’with a man-made ministry,’ these apostles will be called by an Angel or God or Christ or by Revelation. But were they? No, no, dear reader, they are man-made if Mormon history be true. "Joseph stated that the first business of the meeting was for the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon to pray, and then proceed to choose twelve men from the church as apostles, to go to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people. The Three Witnesses, namely, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris united in prayer. They were then blessed by the laying on of the hands of the Presidency, and then proceeded to make choice of the twelve as follows:"Church History, Vol. 1, page 541; Tullidge, page 150.

Here you have it from their own history, after all the talk of "No man taking the honor of priesthood unless called of God by revelation," here we have it, the Three Witnesses made choice of the twelve apostles. We may stop to enquire what became of those twelve men. We must be brief for a darker history of apostasy and criminality could scarcely be written of twelve men than can be written and has been written of many of those men. Five of them got-into trouble with Smith and they denounced him as about everything that was bad and left the church. One of them was killed in a fight, and six of them went into polygamy and became the scoundrels of the darkest kind of Mormon infamy, Brigham Young being among them, with the two Pratts and Kimball. It is said that when the Three Witnesses refused to select William Smith as one of the Twelve, Joseph compelled them to place his brother William as one of the Twelve Apostles, yet this William Smith was a low-down drunkard, and had three wives at one time, and gave his brother Joseph a sound thrashing. Ch. Hist., Vol. 1, pages 592-624; Tullidge, page 577.

Apostles Led Church Into Great Sin. The Mormons affirm we must have Twelve inspired Apostles in the true church, and they quote 1 Corinthians 12, to show these inspired Apostles should be in the church for the "perfecting of the saints," for the edifying of the body of Christ, etc. But, let the world look for a more degrading set of men than the majority of the Mormon Apostles of the Early days, and they will be disappointed. They led the church into murder, adulteries, Adam-God worship, polygamy and made Mormonism a stench in the nostrils of civilization.

Now we have seen that neither Smith, Cowdery or the Twelve Apostles were called of God in the first organization of the Mormon church, and that system led their followers into most every evil. Now let us turn to the coming forth of what is known as the Reorganized Mormonism, and commonly called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

CHAPTER IV.