Chapter VI: Section 42: 18, 19.--And now, behold, I speak unto the church. Thou (3)

It was not until long after the second marriage that my first wife
was drawn away from us, not on account of domestic troubles, but
for other causes which I do not care to mention. In eight years of
wedded life we had no children. She constantly complained of ill
health and was as constantly under a doctor's care. She concluded
to go to California for her health and before going procured a
separation. This all occurred previous to 1867. On March 1, 1868
I married Sarah E. Richards, and January 1, 1870, I married Edna
Lambson, from one to three years after my first wife separated
from me, and had become a resident of California. She subsequently
returned to Utah and later went to St. Louis where she died.

Your self-exaltation in classing yourself with Jacob is most stupendous, to say the least. He was above accepting idle rumors, from such sources as those given by the writer of the article of _Collier's_ which you quote, and which are false. Jacob was no aspersor.

Aunt Catherine Phillips Smith also declares that she did testify to you in regard to her marriage and that you questioned her quite closely. My mother declares the same for she was present at the conversation. Presidents Snow and Cannon are not here to speak in their defense, but I am satisfied that they would bear witness to the foregoing letter. Aunt Lucy may testify for herself.

TESTIMONY OF LUCY W. SMITH

The day I received a copy of the _Ensign_ containing your discourse from which you give extracts in your "reply," in relation to your "conversation" with Aunt Lucy W. Smith, I sent her a copy of your remarks with the request that she tell me if you had correctly reported her testimony. In the course of a few days I received this:

My Dear Boy: I very much regret not feeling able to answer your
request at an earlier date. I am, however, much improved in health
since coming to Logan, and take pleasure in declaring to you that
the infamous discourse delivered 16th Feb. 1905 (the date of the
_Ensign_) at St. Louis, Missouri, by Mr. Evans, is a fabrication of
falsehoods and misrepresentations. I confess that I was not only
surprised, but shocked beyond measure. Now one of the presidency
of the Reorganized church, just think of it! And at the time he
came to Salt Lake City three years ago, he claimed to be one of
"young Joseph's apostles; came with a letter of introduction from
cousin Joseph to his cousin Joseph F., saying that any courtesy
shown him would be appreciated. Accordingly, Mr. Evans was shown
every consideration. He accepted the generous hospitality of our
President and his model family. Having expressed a desire to meet
Mrs. Lucy W. Kimball, who was engaged that afternoon, arrangements
were made to meet at the theatre, as he had to leave next day.
He asked me many questions which I answered frankly--some very
offensive hearsay questions that aroused my indignation, but I
bore the ordeal as a martyr should. And from this opportunity
sprang the wonderful discourse of wicked falsehood and malicious
misrepresentation. O, shame! Where canst thou hide thy brazen face!
How dare he resort to such infamy unless to satiate a morbid desire
for notoriety among sensation-mongers, who seek not for light or
truth! If so he only gratified the cravings of the basest and
lowest caste.

I cannot believe that the once highly and beloved Emma who was so
loyal and true to her husband in all the early trials and hardships
to which he was subject, when in chains and bondage, when he was
dragged from his bed, tarred and feathered, imprisoned and mocked
and scoffed at, ridiculed and abused, and his life threatened by
infuriated mobs and she stood by him and comforted him in all of
his afflictions--I cannot believe after enduring all this for
his sake, that Emma Smith ever denied seeing the revelation on
celestial marriage after receiving it in good faith and accepting
it as a command from God, _knowing_ as I do, that she taught it
to Eliza and Emily Partridge, Maria and Sarah Lawrence, and urged
them to accept it by being sealed to her husband. She treated them
kindly and considerately and knew they were associated with him as
his wives. She was then a happy woman, until the tempter came in
human form, and she partook of the apostate spirit so rife in those
days. She could not deny these facts without sinning against her
husband, sinning against his wives, against the truth, and against
her God!

If her son insists that this denial was her last testimony he
fastens a stigma on her once noble character in the estimation of
her former friends and associates, who were familiar with the facts
of the period referred to. This misguided son, young and without
experience, was surrounded by his father's most wicked enemies who
had betrayed his father, and had been instrumental in taking his
life; and who, after they had accomplished this foul act, through
sinister policies, determined to destroy the work his father was
commanded to do, and had laid a permanent foundation on which to
build up his church--the Church of Christ. They sought to influence
his son against the teachings of his father, call him forth as a
"leader" with promises of success, and good backing. Poor boy was
flattered and led on and on, by crafty men, until he became an
unbeliever of the principles his father had taught; and I cannot
but believe that through such influences his mother has been
misrepresented. I am unwilling to believe otherwise.

I expressed regrets to Mr. Evans in relation to the course taken
by "young Joseph" through the influence of the bitter opponents of
his father. I said he had closed his eyes to anything that would
cast a ray of light on the vexed question: "Did my father have
more [other] wives than my mother?" I answered truthfully without
hesitation. Afterwards he went to Lehi, called on Melissa Lott,
with whom he had been associated from early childhood and asked:
"Will you answer me one question, I come to you knowing you will
tell me the truth, were you my father's wife?" "Yes, Joseph, I
was." "Where is your proof?" She stepped to the stand and took the
family Bible opened to the family record, placed it on his knee and
asked: "Do you recognize the handwriting?" "Certainly that is your
father's (Cornelius P. Lott's) handwriting, know it as well as my
own." Then read the marriage certificate of the Prophet Joseph and
Melissa Lott.

Oliver Huntington who is still living testifies that they were very
intimate as boys, and when together had often talked the matter
over.

Referring to Mr. Evans again. I said: "Does this prove him (Joseph)
an honest man?" Now does this cover the ground of your inquiry? I
have so often been interrupted by callers, that I may not have been
explicit enough. My personal testimony you already have, if not you
can get it by referring to "Reminiscences of Latter-day Saints,"
by L. O. Littlefield, which you will find at the President's
(Historian's) office.

Does this read much like she had been correctly represented?

BRIGHAM YOUNG UPHELD BY THE LORD

In reference to the wicked charge you make in your discourse mentioned in Aunt Lucy's letter, against President Young of practicing gross immorality while on his mission in England in 1840 and winter of 1841, a sufficient answer will be found in the revelation of January 19, 1841, wherein the Lord, by revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith declares:

I give to you _my servant_ Brigham Young, to be a President over
the Twelve traveling Council,

Which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom
upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word
to every creature.

And the revelation of July 9, 1841, given after his return from England:

* * * Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Brigham, it
is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times
past, for your offering is acceptable to me.

In this abusive charge against President Young you are striking at Jehovah, and accusing Him, either of condoning such a grievous sin, or failing to discover it. Such a charge as that is ridiculously absurd, I feel safe in accepting the word of the Lord in preference to the ribald, indecent statements of those who speak forth the vulgar desires of their own minds.

Respectfully,
Joseph F. Smith, Jr.

Footnotes

1. I am not so blind in my admiration of the "Mormon" people or so bigoted in my devotion to the "Mormon" faith as to think there are no individuals in the Church chargeable with fanaticism, folly, intemperate speech, and wickedness; nor am I blind to the fact that some in their over-zeal have lacked judgment; and that in times of excitement, under stress of special provocation, even "Mormon" leaders have given utterances to ideas that are indefensible. But I have yet to learn that it is just in a writer of history, or of "purpose fiction," that "speak truly," to make a collection of these things and represent them as the essence of that faith against which said writer draws an indictment.

"No one would measure the belief of 'Christians,'" says a truly great writer, "by certain statements in the Fathers, nor judge the moral principles of Roman Catholics by prurient quotations from the Casuist; nor yet estimate Lutherans by the utterances and deeds of the early successors of Luther, nor Calvinists by the burning of Servetus. In all such cases the general standpoint of the times has to be first taken into account."--Edeshiem's Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, preface p. 8.

A long time ago the great Edmund Burke in his defense of the rashness expressed in both speech and action of some of our patriots of the American revolution period said: "It is not fair to judge of the temper of the disposition of any man or any set of men when they are composed and at rest from their conduct or their expressions in a state of disturbance and irritation."

2. Writing of the Mormon Meadows massacre Hubert H. Bancroft, in his History of Utah, page 544 says: "Indeed it may well be understood at the outset that this horrible crime, so often and so persistently charged upon the Mormon church and its leaders, was the crime of an individual, the crime of a fanatic of the worst stamp, one who was a member of the Mormon church, but of whose intentions the church knew nothing, and whose bloody acts the members of the church, high and low, regard with as much abhorrence as any out of the church. Indeed, the blow fell upon the brotherhood with threefold force and damage. There was the cruelty of it, which wrung their hearts; there was the odium attending its performance in their midst; and there was the strength it lent their enemies further to malign and molest them. The Mormons denounce the Mountain Meadows massacre, and every act connected therewith, as earnestly and as honestly as any in the outside world. This is abundantly proved, and may be accepted as a historical fact."

3. See also Doctrine and Covenants section 101:80, on this point.

4. A polygamist the friend of God, whose praise you sing, and the man you are _glad_ to call the father of the faithful.--_Saints' Herald_ 52:437.

5. Those thirty-one witnesses were: S. Bennett, George Miller, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon, Wilson Law, Wilford Woodruff, Newel K. Whitney, Albert Petty, Elias Higbee, John Taylor, Ebenezer Robinson, Aaron Johnson, Emma Smith, Elizabeth A. Whitney, Sarah M. Cleveland, Eliza R. Snow, Mary C. Miller, Lois Cutler, Thirza Cahoon, Ann Hunter, Jane Law, Sophia Marks, Polly Z. Johnson, Abagail Works, Catharine Petty, Sarah Higbee, Phebe Woodruff, Leonora Taylor, Sarah Hillman, Rosanna Marks, and Angeline Robinson.

THE SAINTS' HERALD ON THE ORIGIN OF PLURAL MARRIAGE

In both replies to Mr. Evans, mention is made of two articles in the _Saints' Herald_, volume one, that were written by Isaac Sheen, the first editor of that paper. These references were ignored by Mr. Evans in his publication of a portion of the foregoing correspondence. It would occupy too much space to copy these articles in full as they are quite lengthy, but I feel that the gist of the matter should be presented in more detail than it is given in the replies.

Mr. Sheen's argument is that the Saints at Nauvoo "set up their idols in their heart," and went to the Prophet Joseph Smith and asked him to inquire of the Lord and ascertain from Him if it would not be proper for them to practice plural marriage. This the Prophet Joseph did and in answer the Lord gave him the revelation on celestial marriage, granting the practice of plural marriage, and then, after giving this revelation the Lord smote the Prophet for his 'iniquity' in asking for the revelation, and poured out wrath and indignation upon the Saints for their participation in what he calls "abominations."

Reference is also made to the prophecies of Ezekiel, Balaam and Micaiah to substantiate his theory which Mr. Sheen admits he is unable to "satisfactorily explain." An extensive quotation from the first article follows, which will give an idea of the position in which the members of the Reorganized church regard the Prophet Joseph Smith and the culmination of his most glorious mission.

STATEMENT OF ISAAC SHEEN

We might call your attention to many prophecies in the Bible which
these backsliders[1] have fulfilled by their abominations. Ezekiel
appears to have had a very clear manifestation of the wickedness of
these men and the plan pursued by them, by which they embark into
polygamy. In Ezekiel 14 c. 1, 5, v, the prophet says, "Then came
certain elders of Israel unto me, saying, Son of man, these men
have set up their idols in their heart and put the stumblingblock
of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all
by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith
the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his
idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity
before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord, will
answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because
they are all estranged from me through their idols." We have shown
you that God gave a revelation unto us in which he commanded that
every man should "cleave unto his wife and none else," and that
he commanded us saying, "Repent and remember the Book of Mormon
and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to
say, but to do according to that which I have written," and that
in that book there is much testimony against polygamy. All these
instructions were sufficient for our guidance, but "men have set
up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumblingblock of
their iniquity before their faces." This adulterous spirit had
captivated their hearts and they desired a license from God to
lead away captive the fair daughters of His people, and in this
state of mind they came to the Prophet Joseph. Could the Lord do
anything more or less than what Ezekiel hath prophesied? The Lord
hath declared by Ezekiel what kind of an answer he would give them,
therefore he answered them according to the multitude of their
idols. Paul had also prophesied that "for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they
all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness." Both these prophecies agree. In Ezekiel's
prophecy the Lord also says, "I will set my face against that
man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him
off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the
Lord. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I
the Lord have deceived that prophet,[2] and I will stretch out my
hand upon him and I will destroy him from the midst of my people
Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity;
the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of
him that seeketh unto him; that the house of Israel may go no
more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their
transgression; but that they may be my people, and I may be their
God, saith the Lord God," 8c., 11 v. We have here the facts as they
have transpired and as they will continue to transpire in relation
to this subject. The death of the prophet is one fact that has
been realized although he abhorred and repented of this iniquity
before his death. This branch of the subject we shall leave to some
of our brethren, who are qualified to explain it satisfactorily.
Those who have practiced these abominations have become "a sign
and a proverb" among men in accordance with this prophecy. These
are the "false teachers" prophesied of by Peter, of whom he said
"many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way
of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment
now of a long time lingereth not, and their abomination slumbereth
not." The reason why the Lord destroyed the prophet and made those
who "set up their idols in their heart," a sign and a proverb,
made them bear the punishment of their iniquity is worthy of our
earnest attention. We are informed that the reason why the Lord
would perform all these things was this, "that the house of Israel
may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with
all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I
may be their God." Here is positive evidence that this prophecy
was to be fulfilled in the last days, for there has only been a
small part of the house of Israel (at any time since this prophecy
was given) that were obedient to the Lord. The time is not fully
come when Israel shall "go no more astray," and not "be polluted
any more with all their transgressions," therefore the punishment
of these men who have committed these sins must continue until
that happy day shall come. But as the Lord says in this prophecy,
"repent and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your
faces from your abominations, so say we, and return unto the fold
from whence you have strayed." As some may yet doubt whether God
would act in this way toward men who set up their idols in their
heart, we will see how God dealt with Balaam. In Numbers 22 c. we
are informed that Balak, king of the Moabites, sent the elders of
Moab and Midian unto Balaam with the rewards of divination in their
hands to entreat him that he would curse Israel, but God said unto
Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the
people, for they are blessed." And Balaam rose up in the morning,
and said unto the Princes of Balak, "Get you unto your land; for
the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you." And Balak
sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. And
they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus sayeth Balak, the son
of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto
me: For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do
whatsoever thou sayest unto me; come, therefore, I pray thee, curse
me this people." Now although the Lord had said unto Balaam, "Thou
shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people, for they
are blessed," yet the great honor that was offered him, allured
him, and he inquired of the Lord again, and said unto the princes,
"Tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will
say unto me more." And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto
him, "If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them: but
yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." And
Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and went with
the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went;
and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against
him. So we find that the Lord told him not to go, but afterwards,
having "set up his idol in his heart" he inquired of the Lord
again whether he might not go and curse Israel and God's anger was
kindled against him because he did so, although God had commanded
him to go. This is, therefore, a parallel case with Ezekiel's
prophecy.[3]

In I Kings, 22 c. we are informed that the King of Israel wanted
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to go up with him to Ramoth-Gilead
to battle, and there were four hundred prophets who said "Go up,
for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And
Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides,
that we might inquire of him?" And the king of Israel said unto
Jehoshapat, "There is yet one, Micaiah, the son of Imlah, by
whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, for he doth not
prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let
not the king say so." So he was sent for. The messenger that was
gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, "Behold now the words
of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy
word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that
which is good." And Micaiah said, "As the Lord liveth, what the
Lord saith unto me, that will I speak." We are then informed that
Micaiah prophesied like the false prophets,[4] and then against
them. And he said, "I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all
the hosts of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his
left. And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up
and fall at Ramoth-Gilead? And one said on this matter, and another
said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit and stood before
the Lord and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him
wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, thou shalt
persuade him, and prevail also; go forth and do so. Now therefore
behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these
thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee." This
doctrine was extensively preached in the Church before iniquity
overthrew the Church, and by this doctrine the Church might have
been saved, if men had not "set up their idols in their heart."

Footnotes

1. The Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and the Saints.

2. The inspired translation reads: "I the Lord have not deceived that prophet."

3. Mr. Sheen forgets that the Lord said, "Thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed," which command Balaam hearkened to.

4. The prophecy was; "Go and prosper; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king," v. 15. This was uttered in mockery, if not why did the king reply: "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord," v. 16. _Then_ Micaiah told the king that he should fall at Ramoth-Gilead, so the king acted with full knowledge of the word of the Lord concerning his death when he went forth to battle. Therefore the Lord did not deceive Ahab in this matter.