Chapter VI: Part 6

We accept the fact that the center place where the City New Jerusalem is to be built, is in Jackson Country, Missouri. It was never the intention to substitute Utah or any other place for Jackson Country. But we do hold that Zion when reference is made to the land, is as broad as America, both North and South--all of it is Zion. If Zion is limited in its scope to the country surrounding Jackson County, it is indeed too bad that Nephi did not know that fact. What a glorious thing it would have been had there been a few Reorganites in his day to inform him of it. Then he and his people would not have fallen into the error of building Temples--like unto Solomon's at Jerusalem--away off down in Central or South America, but they could have placed one in Jackson Country, or the regions round about. It was really an unfortunate occurrence.

But to be serious. The Book of Mormon informs us that the whole of America, both North and South, is a choice land above all other lands, in other words--Zion. The Lord told the Jaredites that He would lead them to a land "which is choice above all the land of the earth." (Ether 1:42). We understand that they landed in Central America where their kingdom existed the greater part of their residence in America. When the Lord led the family of Lehi to this land, He said to them: "And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands." (I. Nephi, 2:20). It is generally understood that they landed in South America, and that their nations, the Nephites and Lamanites, dwelt in South and Central America during the greater part of their sojourn here. At any rate, the time of their civilization was principally spent in the South and not in the region now comprising the United States. This proves beyond the possibility of doubt that the choice land was South as well as North America, and while the City New Jerusalem, which the Book of Mormon tells us is to be built on this land that is choice above all other lands, will be in Jackson County, nevertheless, if one accepts the Book of Mormon, one must accept the whole hemisphere as the land of Zion.

At the April conference of the Church, held at Nauvoo in 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the whole of America was Zion. (See Mill. Star, 23:280). His remarks are recorded in the _Life of Joseph the Prophet_ (Reorganite edition, page 503) as follows:

"But in the mighty sweep of the crowning sermons of his life we
must not overlook the more miscellaneous gems and striking sayings.
Here is one for America, like the sound of an archangel's trump:

"I want to make a proclamation to the Elders. You know very well
that the Lord has led this Church by revelation. I have now another
revelation--a grand and glorious revelation. I shall not be able to
dwell as largely upon it as at some other time, but I will give you
the first principles. You know there has been a great discussion
in relation to Zion, where it is, and where the gathering of the
dispensation is, which I am now going to tell you. The Prophets
have spoken and written upon it, but I will make a proclamation
that will cover a broader ground. _The whole of America is Zion
itself_, from north to south, and is described by the Prophets,
who declared that it is the Zion, where the mountain of the Lord
should be, and that it should be in the centre of the land. When
the Elders will take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible
they will see it."

"AN ESOTERIC GOSPEL."

Another charge is that after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, President Young and the Apostles introduced secrets into the Church, that they claimed to hold "_keys that the written word never spoke of, nor never will_." (True Succession, p. 122). All this, say they, is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the teachings of Joseph Smith, who always taught openly and not in secret. One of their defenders writing on this point quotes from the Redeemer as follows:

"Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in
the synagogue, and in the temple, wither the Jews always resort;
_and in secret have I said nothing_. Why ask thou me? ask them:
behold they know what I said." (John 18:18-21.)

"But Brigham was afraid that people would ask his followers what he
taught. In speaking of some who wanted their endowments, he says:
'Well, he gets his endowment, and what for? To go to California,
and _reveal everything he can_, and stir up wickedness, and prepare
himself for hell." (Journal of Discourses, 2: 144).

"Christ was not afraid of any revealments. He stood there among
His enemies, defying them to find any fault with His teachings;
but Brigham was afraid of what his followers might reveal of his
doctrine and secret works. Did he represent Christ?" (Necessity for
a Reorganization, p. 30).

Yes, Jesus taught the Gospel openly as far as the Jews were able to stand it; but it does not follow that he did not teach His disciples things that were not for the world! And at times He was constrained by His Father from teaching His disciples some truths. Why? Because of the hardness of their hearts they were not able to receive His teachings. In not revealing everything to the world, did Brigham Young,--aye, did Joseph Smith represent Christ? for Brigham Young was only following in the footsteps of the Seer! What was it the Savior said to Peter, James, and John, when they came down from the mount of transfiguration? Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead."--Matt. 17:8. (Inspired Scriptures) Why didn't he tell them to proclaim it openly from the housetops? Because it was not for the world! Jesus was in the habit of teaching the people in parables. On one occasion when He had thus spoken, His disciples came and said unto him:

"Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto
them, _Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven_, but _to them_ it is not given. For whosoever
receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance;
but whosoever continueth not to receive, from him _shall be taken
away even that he hath_. Therefore speak I to them in parables;
because they, seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither
do they understand." (Matt. 13:8-12).

On another occasion Jesus said unto His disciples: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16). But He did not tell them who those "other sheep" were. The reason He failed to tell them this interesting fact we learn from the Book of Mormon:

"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words,
He said unto those Twelve whom He had chosen, ye are my disciples;
and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the
house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance;
and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath
the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your
brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given
me commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other
tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out
of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should
tell unto them. That other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and
there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now, _because
of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word:
therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning
this thing unto them_." (III. Nephi, 15:11-17).

How different this is from Reorganite philosophy, according to their rule of faith, Jesus should have spoken boldly and openly and should not have withheld anything. Was Jesus "_afraid_ of any revealments?"

Paul says he knew a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, he could not tell, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and _heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter_." What made the words unlawful to utter to man? simply because in the hardness of his heart and unbelief, man was not worthy to hear them, he could not endure them.

The Book of Mormon is most emphatic on this point that there are "mysteries" that are not to be revealed to the unfaithful. This is from the Prophet Alma:

"And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, (Zeezrom),
saying, It is given unto many _to know the mysteries_ of God;
_nevertheless they are laid under a strict command, that they shall
not impart only according to the portion of His word, which He doth
grant unto the children of men; according to the heed and diligence
which they give unto Him_; and therefore he that will harden his
heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he
that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion
of the word, _until he know them in full_; and they that will
harden their hearts, to them is given the _lesser portion_ of the
word, _until they know nothing concerning his mysteries_; and then
they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to
destruction. Now, this is what is meant by the chains of hell."

It is because Reorganites have hardened their hearts that they have not received the _greater portion_ of the word, even the mysteries, and therefore they are, through their hard-heartedness and unbelief, captives of the devil and in danger of the chains of hell.

If the Lord places His servants under a strict command _not to reveal_ His word, "only according to the portion of His word, which He doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto Him;" and, therefore, they withhold some of those things from the world that have been revealed unto them does that make them _cowardly_? If so, not only Brigham Young, but Joseph Smith, yes, even the Son of Man Himself would be cowardly. No, the fact that they have refused to do this thing proves them to possess the greatest courage, for it has caused them to face persecutions, even death.

We are told that the Book of Mormon contains the fulnesss of the Gospel, yet the greater parts of the teachings of the Savior to that people are not yet revealed, because of the unbelief of the people. This is from III. Nephi, 26th chapter:

"And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part
of the teachings which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; but
behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things
which He taught the people; and these things have I written, which
are a _lesser part_ of the things which He taught the people; and I
have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto
this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus
hath spoken.

"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that
they should have first, _to try their faith_, and if it shall so
be that they shall believe these things, then shall the _greater
things_ be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will
not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld
from them, _unto their condemnation_. Behold I was about to write
them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, _but the
Lord forbid it, saying, I will try the faith of my people_."
(Verses 6-11).

The calling of Brigham Young a coward for withholding some things that the Lord has revealed to His Church, may be excused because of the ignorance of the accusers; but who dare presume to say the Lord was cowardly because He withheld the greater things from His people? And yet if you have done it unto one of His servants ye have done it unto Him.

Again:

"Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which
the brother of Jared saw: and there never was greater things made
manifest, than that which was made manifest unto the brother of
Jared; wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I
have written them. And He commanded me that I should seal them up;
and He also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation
thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to
the commandment of the Lord. For the Lord said unto me, They shall
not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent
of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord." (Ether 4:4-6).

Joseph the Prophet was commanded to keep some things from going out into the world that had been revealed unto him and the Church. He also received revelations that he could not teach to the Church in the beginning, no more than Jesus could teach all things to His disciples. When he did reveal some of the "mysteries" there were many who left Him and denied the faith, just as they did when Jesus told His disciples He was the bread of life (John 6:66). "Many of them went back and walked no more with Him." The Prophet said at Kirtland, April 6, 1837: "If the Church knew all the commandments, one half they would condemn through prejudice and ignorance. (Hist. of Church, Vol. 2:477). A great many did fall away at that time, not being able to endure, and among them were the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, one of whom afterwards set up a church of his own, declaring that Joseph Smith was a fallen Prophet, and rejecting all his commandments given after about 1835.

The Lord gave a revelation to the Prophet, March 7, 1831, at Kirtland (Sec. 45), in which He revealed many things to take place before His second coming, and at the close of the revelation He said:

"And now I say unto you, _keep these things from going abroad unto
the world_, until it is expedient in me that ye may accomplish this
work in the eyes of the people, and in the eyes of your enemies,
that they may not know your works until ye have accomplished the
thing which I have commanded you."

When the Prophet Joseph gave his charge to the first foreign missionaries of the Church, Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Joseph Fielding, and others, he said:

"My instructions to the brethren were, when they arrived in
England, to adhere closely to the first principles of the Gospel,
and remain _silent_ concerning the _gathering_, the _vision_, (D. &
C., Sec. 76), and the _Book of Doctrine and Covenants_, until such
time as the work was fully established, and it should be clearly
made manifest by the Spirit to do otherwise. (Hist. of Church,
2:492).

Was there anything in the doctrine of _gathering_, in the _vision_, or the _Doctrine and Covenants_, that Joseph Smith was ashamed of? Was he "afraid that people would ask his followers what he taught?" that he gave such a charge to these first foreign missionaries of the Church! Was he afraid, a coward? No, he was merely obeying the voice of the Spirit, for the people were not prepared to receive these things. Brigham Young was no more "afraid that the people would ask his followers what he taught," than was Joseph Smith, or even the Master Himself, when He commanded certain of His disciples to withhold some of His teachings from the world, until after His resurrection.

Now, our Reorganite friends have attempted to make considerable capital out of the statement of President Brigham Young, that there were "keys that the written word never spoke of, nor never will." In the light of the facts herein set forth, that "it is given unto many to _know the mysteries_ of God; _nevertheless they are laid under a strict command, that they shall not impart only according to the portion of His word, which He doth grant unto the children of men_; according to the _heed_ and _diligence_ which they give unto Him, and that things have been revealed to the faithful even to babes, that were "_forbidden_, that there should not any man _write them_," and that many of them have seen and heard "_unspeakable things_, which are _not lawful to be written_," (III. Nephi 26:16, 18). is it, after all, so unreasonable that there should be _keys_ that the written word _does not and will not_ speak of? Joseph Smith the Prophet held the "_keys_" of the _mystery of things which have been sealed_, even things which were from the foundation of the world." (D. & C. 35:18), which _mysteries_ it was given to the Saints to know, "but _unto the world_ it is not _given to know them_." (D. & C. 42:65). Again: "But unto him that keepeth my commandments, I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life." (D. & C. 63:23).

Now, how were these _keys_ and _mysteries_ to be kept from the world, if they were to be published to the world in the written word? And if the Saints through faithfulness are to receive the _mysteries_ of the kingdom, then they must be withheld from the world and from the unfaithful. How is this to be if they are to be published to the world in the written word? Therefore, when our friends of the "Reorganization" attack President Young because there were _keys_ not spoken of in the written word, which keys we have seen were held by Joseph Smith, they merely display their own ignorance and folly in raising the question.

TEMPLE BUILDING AND CEREMONIAL ENDOWMENTS THEREIN.

Another phase of this same subject is Temple work, which is so bitterly attacked by the Reorganites. They say:

"That as to the alleged 'temple building and ceremonial endowments
therein,' that we know of no temple building, except as edifices
wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of
the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early Saints on
Pentecost day." (Book of Resolutions, p. 82).

They take the ground that the Temple work of the Latter-day Saints is contrary to the teachings of the Prophet, and it was not contemplated before the martyrdom that in the Temple of God anything of a secret nature should take place. Of course it is to be expected that the "Reorganization" knows of "no Temple building or ceremonial endowments therein," for they have rejected the "_greater things_" and therefore the Lord has withheld from them this knowledge "to their condemnation." This charge has been already answered in part in what goes before, but we will see what is in the revelations to Joseph Smith which justify still further the actions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the belief and practice of "ceremonial endowments," etc., in the Temples.

After speaking of baptism for the dead in the revelation of January 19, 1841, the Lord continues:

"And again, verily I say unto you, How shall your _washings_ be
acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you
have built to my name? * * * Therefore, verily I say unto you, that
your _anointings_, and your _washings_, and your baptisms for the
dead, and your _solemn assemblies_, and your memorials for your
sacrifices, by the sons of Levi, and for your _oracles in your
most holy places_, wherein you receive _conversations_, and your
statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and
foundation of Zion, and for her glory, honor, and endowment of
all her municipals, _are ordained_ by the _ordinance of my holy
house_ which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy
name. And verily I say unto you, Let this house be built unto my
name, that _I may reveal mine ordinances therein, unto my people_."
(Verses 37-40).

Here are mentioned ordinances that were not had on Pentecost day that were to be had in the Lord's Temple, of which our self-confessed Reorganites know nothing, because God has not revealed these things unto them, and He will not for they have rejected these greater things to _their own condemnation_.

In the Book of Abraham (See Pearl of Great Price) published by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Times and Seasons in 1842, is given a fac-similie of hieroglyphics with an accompanying translation by Joseph Smith, as far as he was permitted to translate. These figures are numbered from 1 to 20. Here are some of these translations and comments of the Prophet: Figure 3.--Is made to represent God, sitting upon His throne, clothed with power and authority; with a crown of eternal light upon His head; representing also the grand _key-words_ of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam, etc." Figure 7.--Represents God sitting upon His throne revealing through the heavens, the grand _key-words_ of the Priesthood, as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove. Figure 8.--_Contains writing that cannot be revealed unto the world, but is to be had in the Holy Temple of God_. Figures 9, 10, 11, the Prophet says "Ought not to be revealed at the present time; if the world can find out these numbers, so let it be. Amen." Figures 12, to 20, "Will be given in the own due time of the Lord." Then the Prophet concludes: "The above translation is given as far as we have any right to give, at the present time."

Here, then, we find things that were to be taught to the Saints in the Temple of the Lord, but were not to be revealed to the world; for they are sacred and holy, and can only be had in the Temple of God, for the Lord through Joseph Smith declared it.

Again, in verse 28 (see 124), the Lord says: "For there is not a place found on earth that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the _fulnesss of the Priesthood_." Therefore, we learn that only in the Temple of the Lord can the fulnesss of the Priesthood be received by His people.

These facts place our Reorganite brethren in a rather unenviable light, for they are opposing through ignorance and unbelief, and the hardness of their hearts, the revelations of the Lord on Temple work as it was revealed to Joseph Smith, and by him to others, and from them to the Church.

"Hold on," say they, "not so fast, the Lord said He was _about_ to restore these things, but it depended on the faithfulness of the Saints, and Joseph Smith died before the Temple was built, therefore, since these things could only be revealed to the people _in the Temple_ they were not revealed."

"Have any such revelations been received? Name them. Where are they and what are they? Our Doctrine and Covenants contains only two sections that were given between that time and the time the Saints left Nauvoo, and they are not revelations, but letters of Joseph Smith containing items of revelation pertaining to baptism for the dead. The Utah Doctrine and Covenants contains nothing that could be accepted as a response, an answer, to the promise in full."[3]

Now, it's our turn to cry "Hold on, not so fast." We will examine the word of the Lord: In verse 41 (sec. 124) He says: "For I deign to reveal _unto my Church_, things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, _things that pertain to the dispensation_ of the fulnesss of times." Well, if we were rejected, and _they have not received_ the revelations of these things the Lord was _about to reveal to His Church_, then it stands to reason that _they are not His Church_ or they would have received them. For the word of the Lord cannot be broken. They testify to us that _they have not_ received these things.

In section 127:8, the Lord again affirms: "For _I am about to restore many things_ to the earth, pertaining to the Priesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts." Yes, He was about to do it, but nearly seventy years have passed away and the "Reorganization" confesses that they have not been revealed to them yet! Then they are not the Church! This is obvious.

Elijah said the time had fully come (Sec. 110) and the Prophet said "the earth will be smitten with a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the fathers and the children * * * it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulnesss of times * * that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of _dispensations_, and _keys_, and _powers_, and _glories_ should take place and _be revealed_ from the days of Adam even to the present time; and not only this, but those things which _never have been revealed from the foundation of the world_, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this the dispensation of the fulnesss of times." (Sec. 128:18).

Here is a point of considerable interest that our friends have overlooked. The Lord says: "_And I will show unto my servant Joseph ALL THINGS pertaining to this house, and the Priesthood thereof_; and the place whereon it shall be built. (Sec. 124:42). Evidently the Lord was going to show him these things before the Temple was built. Did the Lord keep His word? Our Reorganite friends say not, that these things _were not_ revealed. But they were revealed to Joseph Smith _and he revealed them to others_; not the unfaithful who would receive only the "lesser portion of the word" and were therefore denied the greater things, but he taught them to the Apostles and others. Now, the Lord did not say that Joseph Smith could not receive the fulnesss of the Priesthood _out side of the Temple_, neither that he should not confer the same Priesthood upon others, to the contrary the Lord said He would reveal these things to Joseph Smith, but it was _His people, His Church_ that could not receive them outside of the Temple of the Lord! and unto them He was going to reveal them _in_ the Temple, but unto Joseph Smith He would show _all things_ pertaining to His house, and _the Priesthood thereof_.

It is unnecessary here to quote the evidence proving that Joseph Smith received _all things_ pertaining to the Priesthood of the Lord's house and conferred them on the heads of the Apostles, for that is given in another place, and has often been recorded. It is, therefore, sufficient to say that shortly before his death he conferred upon the heads of the Apostles all the _keys and Priesthood_ the Lord had given him, and this was done by command of the Lord. We will merely refer to the testimony of Orson Hyde which with other testimonies is given in this book. Said Brother Hyde:

"Before I went east on the 4th of April last, we were in council
with Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks, said Brother Joseph
in one of those councils, 'There is something going to happen; I
don't know what it is, but the Lord bids me to hasten and give you
your endowment before the Temple is finished.' He conducted us
through every ordinance of the Holy Priesthood, and when he had
gone through with all the ordinances, he rejoiced very much, and
said, 'Now, if they kill me, you have got all the keys, and all
the ordinances, and you can confer them upon others, and the hosts
of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom, as fast as you
will be able to build it up.'" (Times and Seasons, 5:651).

"Have any such revelations been received? they cry. Name them. Where are they and what are they?" Yes, these revelations have been received. They were revealed to Joseph Smith[4] and from him to the Apostles, and by the Apostles they have been given to the faithful Saints in the Temples of the Lord; both at Nauvoo and here in Utah. "_Name them?_" No, I shall not name them nor tell what they are. Why? because if the Lord kept some things hid from the world since before the foundation of the world, pertaining to the dispensation of the fulnesss of times, and has revealed them now unto _His Church_, I have no authority to reveal them to the world. Moreover, I am--like every other member of the Church--"laid under a strict command, not to impart only according to the portion of His word, which He doth grant unto the children of men." Should I reveal these things, because of the hardness of your hearts you would not receive them, therefore, you shall receive but the lesser portion of the word, to your condemnation. If you will not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will you though one arose from the dead.

REVELATION.

Another charge is that the Presidents of the Church have not received the revelations of the Lord which have been given to the "Reorganization" through their president. The charge is false. The Presidents of the Church from the Prophet Joseph until now have received revelations from the Lord for the guidance of His people. While all these revelations have not been placed in the Doctrine and Covenants, they are none the less true. Not all the revelations given to Joseph the Seer were placed in the Doctrine and Covenants in his day, we have added many of his revelations to that volume since his death; and there are others that have not been placed in it. Some of them were for the Church and _not for the world_, and, therefore, are given only to the Saints. But many revelations have been given to the Church since the death of Joseph Smith, some of these have been published, some have not. It has been my privilege to read and handle a number of them that are still in the manuscript and have not as yet been given to the world for a wise purpose in the Lord. But they are on file and will be preserved.

A short time ago a number of Elders visited Lamoni and held meetings there. The following issue of the Saints' Herald contained an editorial, not very dignified, ridiculing them. It was written by the associate editor. In part he said:

"It may be urged that these are young and inexperienced men. But
the dearth of spiritual power is not confined to these young men.
Joseph F. Smith, who is supposed to be a 'Prophet, seer, and
revelator,' when before the Senate Committee was asked by Senator
Dubois, 'Have you received any individual revelations yourself,
since you became president of the Church under your own definition,
even, of a revelation?'

"To this he replied, 'I cannot say that I have.'

"A moment later he added, 'Well, I can say this: That if I live as
I should in the line of my duties, I am susceptible, I think, of
the impressions of the Spirit of the Lord upon my mind at any time,
_just as any good Methodist or any other church member might be_.'

"This seems to be in line with the experiences of his predecessors,
Snow, Woodruff, Taylor, and Young, who also posed as 'revelators,'
for during a period of over sixty years they have received nothing
professing to be a revelation, that was thought worthy of a place
in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants." (Elbert A. Smith, _Saints'
Herald_, 56:681).

This slurring presumption counts for naught, for the editor of the _Herald_ knows nothing pertaining to the revelations we have received, or what we think of them. Nor is he fair to President Joseph F. Smith in this quotation from the record of the investigation, for it does not convey the belief or knowledge, or the true expression of President Smith, and was purposely misapplied, which a careful reading of his testimony will show.

To presume to speak in the name of the Lord is a serious matter, and woe be to the man who speaks in the name of the Lord when he has not been commanded. It is far better never to receive a revelation than to follow after those who receive "revelations" that the Lord has not given. The "revelations" given by the Reorganite president to the "Reorganized" Church, need only to be read to convince one of their spurious character. They are weak, puerile, and it takes a very little of the spirit of discernment to know what source they are of. However, if they are acceptable to the "Reorganization," that is their business. We are satisfied.

But the people who lack in discernment may be deceived through the pretenses of men and accept for facts and revelations that which the Lord has not commanded. If there are any who are honestly deceived pertaining to the revelations of this man who presumes to be the "President of the High Priesthood" and "the mouthpiece of God," we will respectfully call their attention to one or two items in his pretended revelations.

This is from section 116, "revelation" given May 4, 1865:

"Be not hasty in ordaining men of the negro race to offices in my
church, for verily I say unto you, All are not acceptable unto me
as servants, nevertheless I will that all may be saved, but every
man in his own order, and there are some who are chosen instruments
to be ministers to their own race. Be ye content, I the Lord have
spoken it."

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the Saints that the negroes could not hold the Priesthood, for the Lord had cursed them as pertaining to the Priesthood. This is supported by the revelation in the Book of Abraham, which was translated by the Prophet. It reads:

"Now the first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the
eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the
manner of government of Ham, which was patriarchal.

"Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged
his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly
to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first
generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even the
reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with
the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but
_cursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood_. Now, Pharaoh being of
the lineage by which _he could not have the right of Priesthood_,
notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through
Ham, therefore my father was led away by their idolatry." (Book of
Abraham 1:25-27).

The Lord did not tell Abraham that the children of Ham were cursed as pertaining to the Priesthood, and then command Joseph Smith of the "Reorganization" to be slow in ordaining them. In the "Reorganized" Church they have a few, at least, of the negro race, that they have "ordained to the priesthood" but it is contrary to the word of God. This Reorganite revelation is spurious.

Here is an extract from another:

"The quorum of twelve, my servants, may choose and appoint one of
their number to take the place of my servant Alexander H. Smith,
and _if they shall choose William H. Kelley_, from among them
for this place, _it will be pleasing unto me_; NEVERTHELESS, IF
_directed by the spirit of revelation_ and _wisdom_ they _may
choose another_." (Sec. 124:3).

Can any sane man believe that the Lord gave this "revelation?" Did He not know His mind and will, was not _His_ the "spirit of revelation and wisdom?" or was there a disagreement on the point between the Lord and the Holy Spirit?

Other extracts might be given from these alleged "revelations" showing their inconsistency, but this will suffice. I have not given these in the spirit of ridicule, but for the purpose of opening the eyes of the blind that they might see, and seeing understand. Let our friends straighten out a few things of this kind among themselves, then they can the better attack us on the point of revelation.

At this point I desire to consider another matter. At the Salt Lake Conference, held March 19, 1905, not long after the return of President Joseph F. Smith from the investigation in Washington, he addressed the Saints on the subject of revelation. In the course of his remarks, he referred to his testimony and said:

"Now, with reference to the principle and doctrine of revelation,
it may be proper for me to say a few words on this subject while
I am on my feet. For me to say, which was the very end that my
critics and inquisitors were endeavoring to get me to say, in order
that I might be led into that trap which they had made for me, to
say that God had given to me a revelation upon some new doctrine,
or theory, or principle, or precept, or anything to be written,
to be observed, or handed down as a guide to the Church, would
have been untrue. I could not have said that, for He has not done
this. But has God revealed to me His mind and His will? Has He made
manifest to me a knowledge of His truth by and through the Spirit
of revelation? Did you ever hear of my denying that? No; no man has
ever heard me deny that.

"When I was baptized as a little child, right up here at the
junction of East Temple and North Temple streets, where City Creek
then ran, but where it is now covered and obliterated--when I was
baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, God
Almighty revealed to me that I had done an act which He approved;
I received then and there a revelation from Almighty God, that
has been with me like a well of living water, springing up into
everlasting life in me, which has been a stay and a staff to me in
all my daily walks, at home and abroad. God revealed to me that
Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, that his message was divine,
that he was raised up by the power of the Almighty to lay the
foundation of this great latter-day work. The Lord has revealed to
me the truth that he sealed his testimony with his blood, that he
was true to the end, as was the Son of God, true until he cried,
'It is enough!' upon the cross. The Lord has revealed to me in
terms that are unmistakable and that are undeniable, that Brigham
Young succeeded lawfully and divinely to the Presidency of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by the will of the
Almighty. I would not be without that revelation for all the gold
and wealth of the world. The Lord revealed to me in terms that
cannot be mistaken, by me at least, that John Taylor was inspired
of the Lord and was a Prophet of God, and was the lawful and divine
successor in the Priesthood and Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, to Brigham Young. The Lord revealed
to me that Wilford Woodruff lawfully and divinely succeeded John
Taylor, that Lorenzo Snow lawfully and divinely followed Wilford
Woodruff. I leave to you to say whether the Lord willed, and
whether it is lawful and right, that I should be in the position in
which God has suffered me to be placed. * *

"The Lord Almighty has revealed to me many things for my own
guidance, to assist me in the discharge of my duty, as an elder in
the Church, as a high priest in the Church, as an apostle, one of
the twelve apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. And I fervently believe that God has manifested to me in
my present capacity, many glorious things, many principles and
oftentimes much more wisdom than is inherent in myself; and I
believe He will continue to do so as long as I am receptive, as
long as I am in a position to hear when He speaks, to listen when
He calls, and to receive when He gives to me that which He desires."

These remarks were taken up, twisted, and falsified by a Salt Lake newspaper, which is so characterless and vile that it is without an equal, and sent out into the world as a press dispatch, declaring that President Joseph F. Smith had in the Tabernacle confessed that he had lied before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, in relation to the subject of revelation when he was a witness before said committee. They made it appear in their dispatch that he had stated in Washington that he had not received any revelation, and in the Tabernacle he declared that that was false for he had received many of them. He testified in Washington as he testified in the Tabernacle, that he had received revelation, as this will show:

Mr. Tayler: Did Joseph Smith contend that always there was a
visible appearance of the Almighty or of an angel?

Mr. Smith. No, sir: he did not.

Mr. Tayler. How otherwise did he claim to receive revelations?

Mr. Smith. By the Spirit of the Lord.

Mr. Tayler. And in that way, such revelations _as you have
received_, you have had them?

Mr. Smith. Yes, sir. (Investigation, Vol. 1: 100).

Without waiting to verify this falsehood circulated from an unspeakable source in Salt Lake City, the President of the "Reorganization," as editor of the _Saints' Herald_ took up the hue and cry with evident great pleasure and wrote an editorial consigning President Joseph F. Smith to perdition as a perjurer in the following words:

"_Who Make and Love a Lie_."

"If President Joseph F. Smith has stated in public what it is
currently reported he has, that in the statements made by him
when a witness before the Senatorial Committee, whose sittings
for inquiry have lately been finished, the report of which in
regard to the unseating of Senator Smoot is awaited, he testified
to that which was not true, he has done an unfortunate and unwise
thing. There may have been some moral bravery in doing as he did
in stating that he was breaking the law of the State, the law of
the United States, and the law of God by continuing to live with
his five wives; and such boldness may have made some admirers of
the President of the Utah Church; but, when that president publicly
states that he lied when he gave his evidence before the Senatorial
Committee, those who may have admired him for his avowal of his
guilt will not, cannot admire him as a confessed perjurer. It may
be said that President Joseph F. Smith did not make oath to what
was false, as he was not sworn, that is, no judicial oath was
administered to him, but, when a witness chooses to affirm that
privilege is granted by the courts; the form of the affirmation is
much like this: 'I do solemnly affirm, subject to the pains and
penalties of perjury, that the testimony I shall give in the case
now pending * * * shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth.' If President Joseph F. Smith faced the committee
on such an affirmation, and gave false testimony, can it be called
anything but perjury? We think not.

"We were surprised when he testified as he did; we now are more
surprised to learn that he has said that he affirmed what was not
true. What can honorable men in or out of the Church think of such
a man? What reliance can be placed on what such a man declares?
If he sought by falsehood to avoid falling into a "trap" set for
him before the committee, by confessing that he did so falsify, he
has assuredly fallen into a more open and dangerous one." (Saints'
Herald, Vol. 52:314-315).

Immediately after this editorial appeared in the _Saints' Herald_ the attention of the editor, Joseph Smith, was called to the fact that it was based on a falsehood. Among others who requested him to correct the wrong and injustice he had inflicted on his people as well as on President Smith, was the writer, who immediately forwarded a protest with a clipping from a non-"Mormon" Utah paper correcting the false report. Others wrote to him on the same subject, but no satisfactory correction was ever made. This was very unchristianlike conduct; surely not the part of a prophet of the Lord! It is true, that in a later editorial he quoted a portion of the remarks of President Joseph F. Smith delivered at that conference, but without apology or correction for bearing false witness. This is the comment following the brief extract he saw fit to give:

"We give these extracts from President Joseph F. Smith's talk on
the afternoon of March 19, 1905, on the subject of revelation, as
they contain the statements on which the charge is based that he
contradicted and denied what he testified to before the Territorial
(Investigation) Committee, offering no comment upon them, leaving
those who read them to judge of them without the bias of an
expression from us."

Surely his sense of fairness after making such an accusation, should have demanded of him more than this.

The following letter, which, under the circumstances, is worthy of producing, was forwarded to him also requesting that justice be done, but it was ignored absolutely:

"Salt Lake City, April 5, 1905.

"_Joseph Smith, Esq_.,
"_Editor, 'The Saints' Herald,'_
"_Lamoni, Iowa_.

"My Dear Sir:

"I was very greatly surprised to notice in the issue of the
'Herald' of March 29, 1905, your editorial entitled, 'Who Make
and Love a Lie.' I am surprised because of the plainly implied
accusation that President Joseph F. Smith is a maker and lover
of lies. I am surprised because of the unfairness of the article
referred to which will take for granted the statement of a
man's bitterest foe and place that statement before his people,
commenting upon it as if it were an admitted fact, without one
word of explanation from the person so wickedly accused, or a
single effort to present both sides. I am surprised because such an
article appears in a periodical which is the organ of a religious
organization claiming to have sprung out of the work founded by the
great prophet who, 'came up through much tribulation,' and who was
misrepresented through all his days upon the earth.

"I am surprised that a man whose early years were spent in the
sorrows and privations incident to the persecutions suffered by
a father whose whole life was spent in sorrow and affliction,
in consequence of the false testimony borne against him and the
constant misrepresentation of his mission, should allow himself to
pass judgment upon another before hearing his defense, and finding
him guilty of 'an unfortunate and unwise thing,' forgetting the
wise proverb, 'He who judgeth a matter before he heareth it, is not
wise.'

"It is true, the article begins with the expression--'_If_President
Joseph F. Smith has stated in public,' etc., etc., but the
remainder of the article clearly assumes that it is sure that
he _did_ so state, as note: "but, when the President publicly
states that he lied when he gave his evidence,' * * * those who
(previously) admired him. * * * * cannot admire him as a confessed
perjurer.

"President Joseph F. Smith has never stated in public nor in
private that he lied when he gave his evidence or at any other
time, and he is not a confessed, nor any other kind of a perjurer,
and I must repeat that I am surprised that any man claiming to be
fair, and to be an example of truthfulness, should follow in the
steps of men who indeed 'love and make lies,' as you well know.

"Does it occur to you that there is anything in the nature of
_loving_ a lie when a person repeats the lies of others and takes
pleasure in assuming the false accusations are true?--or that
there is anything in the nature of '_making_ a lie' when a person
takes the lying testimony of a man's foes and places it before his
people without giving them the opportunity of judging the matter by
knowing both sides?

"It was by such specious falsehoods that the life of the Prophet
Joseph was repeatedly placed in danger. It was by such false
testimony that the Son of Man was condemned by the Priests, the
Rabbis, the Scribes and the Pharisees.

"You ask, 'What can honorable men, in or out of the Church, think
of such a man?'

"Let me say in reply to your question:--honorable men and men of
wisdom, who love the truth, in or out of the Church, seek to know
the truth before joining with the rabble in the cry, 'Crucify him!
Crucify him!' and such men, who know the facts, and who love not a
lie, but love the truth and the Lord its maker, honor and revere
the man whom your article so subtly defames. They know him to be
an upright, true, pure, honorable man, whose simple life has been
before his people all his days, whose heart is true, whose tongue
is true, whose courage is undaunted, whose faith is unshaken, and
who is, in all respects, worthy of the love, confidence and support
of the people of the living God.

"In order that you may not fall under the dreadful charge of
'Loving and Making a Lie,' will you publish, for the information of
the readers of the 'Herald,' the other side of this matter if it is
furnished you?

"It is not my habit to take up matters of this kind, and if these
accusations had been made against myself, I should never have
noticed them, but knowing what a great injustice your article
does to a good and noble man--my true friend and brother--I felt
impelled to call your attention to it, in the hope that your sense
of fairness would cause you to do simple justice, and not join in
the hue and cry of those who 'Make and Love a Lie.'"

"Yours truly,
"THOMAS HULL."

He failed absolutely, when the evidence was furnished him, to justly, honorably, make the matter right. There is some degree of commendation due the man who maligns another if he is willing to make amends, and we can honor a man who will correct an error when he discovers that fact and is willing to make full satisfaction; but little respect can be had for one who, after wronging another, will not attempt to right it when he learns he is wrong. Abraham Lincoln said in his debate with Douglas, that there was a _moral rule_, "That persons who tell what they do not know to be true, falsify as much as those who knowingly tell falsehoods." We leave the matter in the hand of a Just Judge, who will judge all men according to their works.

WHO ORDAINED BRIGHAM YOUNG.

_The following is from the Deseret News, May 11, 1907_.

A correspondent writing from Parker, Idaho, requests a reply, through the columns of the "News" to the question, "By whom was President Young ordained to the Presidency of the Church?" It appears that the emissaries of the Reorganite Church have discovered in that question a fruitful source of sophistical controversy, and that they are triumphantly asking it wherever they go.

The proper reply is, he was ordained by the Prophet Joseph to that calling, when the Prophet, prompted by the Holy Spirit, conferred upon the Twelve Apostles the power and authority, he himself had received. The following statement of facts by Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr., can be verified by the authentic records of the Church:

"The Prophet Joseph earnestly desired that his brother Hyrum should live to succeed him in the Presidency of the Church. In the year 1841, by command of the Lord, he ordained him to this exalted position, as is quite evident from the following, Section 124, verses 94-5, of the Doctrine and Covenants: