Chapter IX: Brigham as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

Brigham's Position as Head of the Church.--Mormon Theology.--
Brigham's Theology, or Utah Mormonism.--Adam as God.--Brigham
Young as God.--Human Sacrifice.--Introduction of Polygamy.--
Polygamy no part of the original Mormon Religion.--The
Revelation, or Celestial Marriage.--The Ceremony of Sealing.--
Consequences and Incidents of the Doctrine.--Incest.--Summary
of the Mormon Religion.

Not only is Brigham Young the temporal head of the church, its chief business agent, and the sole custodian of its funds, but he is the spiritual head, the established fountain, in whom is gathered from on high all spiritual blessings, and from whom they are expected to flow through the various officers of the priesthood, and thus be distributed to the faithful among the masses. Standing in this capacity between the people and the Supreme Being, he is at once Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. As Prophet and Seer, he sees and foretells to the people what is to befall them, as the result of certain courses of action. As Revelator, he reveals and translates, to the comprehension of the people, the hidden will of God concerning them.

An acknowledgment of this relationship of Brigham with the Divine Being is made a test of fellowship; as in the case of the Morrisites, who, although they admitted his right to preside over the church as its temporal head, denied him the attributes of prophet and revelator. Hence they were cut off from the church.

Acting in this capacity, he not only prescribes a course of conduct for his followers, but promulgates, from time to time, doctrines, to be received, believed, and advocated. Thus the theology or creed of the church changes, from time to time, to suit the changing opinions, the whims and caprices, or the passions and lusts, of its head and leader. What is here said, therefore, of the Mormon religion, must be understood in reference to the received doctrines and tenets of the church in former years,--many of which still remain, but incorporated with new dogmas, and any part or all of which are liable at any time to be changed, modified, or entirely overthrown.

MORMON THEOLOGY.

There are many Gods, and they are of both sexes. But to us there is but one God,--the Father of mankind, and the Creator of the earth.

Men and women are literally the sons and daughters of God,--our spirits having been literally begotten by God, in the heavenly world, and having been afterwards sent to the earth, and invested with these tabernacles.

God is in the form of man. He has a body, composed of spiritual matter. There is no difference between matter and spirit, except in quality. Spirit is matter refined.

God is omnipotent, but not personally omnipresent. He is everywhere present by his Holy Spirit. His personality is generally expressed by the phrase, "He has body, parts, and passions." He resides in the centre of the universe, near the planet Kolob. This planet revolves on its axis once in a thousand of our years, and one revolution of Kolob is a day to the Almighty.

Jesus Christ was the Son of God, literally begotten by the Father, and had the Spirit of God in the body of a man. After his resurrection, he had a body of flesh and bones only, typical of man's resurrected body. He differs in nothing from the Father, except in age and authority,--the Father having the seniority, and consequently the right to preside.

The Holy Spirit is a subtle fluid, like electricity. It is the subtlest form of matter, and pervades all space. By its agency all miracles, so called, are performed. Miracles are simply the effects of the operation of natural laws. But they are laws of a higher character than those with which we are acquainted. This Holy Spirit is communicated by the laying-on of hands by one of the properly authorized priesthood, and the recipient is then enabled to perform wonderful things, according to his gift,--some having the gift of prophecy, some of healing, some of speaking in unknown tongues, etc.

There are three heavens,--the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial.

The _telestial_ and _terrestrial_ heavens are to be occupied by the various classes of persons who have neither obeyed nor rejected the gospel. The telestial is typified by the stars,--the terrestrial, by the moon.

The _celestial_, or highest heaven, has for its type the sun, and is reserved for those who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on His name, and were baptized by one having authority from Him, and who afterwards lived a holy life.

The earth, as purified and refined, after the second coming of Christ, is to be the final habitation of those entitled to the glories of the celestial kingdom. Jerusalem is to be rebuilt, and Zion, or the New Jerusalem, is to be built in Jackson County, Missouri, whence the saints were expelled in 1833.

There is a fourth class of persons, not entitled to either of these heavens. They are those who sin against the Holy Ghost; that is, those who apostatize after receiving the Holy Spirit. These go into everlasting punishment, to remain with the devil and his angels.

The gospel, which people are called upon to obey, in order to gain a place in the celestial kingdom, is,--_First_, They must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and in His authorized priesthood. _Secondly_, They must repent of their sins; _Thirdly_, They must be baptized by immersion for the remission of their sins; and, _Fourthly_, They must receive the laying-on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

God, having become nearly lost to man, revived His work, by revealing himself to Joseph Smith, and conferring upon him the keys of the everlasting Priesthood,--thus making him the mediator of a New Dispensation, which is immediately to precede the second coming of Christ. All those who recognize the divine authority of Smith, and are baptized by one having authority, are the chosen people of God, who are to introduce the Millennium, and to reign with Christ, on earth, a thousand years.

Previous to the year 1852, it was also an orthodox principle of the Mormon religion, that a man should have but one wife, to whom he should be true and faithful.

Those who have any curiosity to pursue the subject further, will find these views and doctrines fully explained and illustrated in the religious writings of the Mormons,--of which the following are some of the principal: Book of Mormon; Book of Doctrine and Covenants; Works of Orson Pratt; Key to Theology, by P. P. Pratt; The Only Way to be Saved, etc., by L. Snow; Pearl of Great Price; Voice of Warning, by P. P. Pratt; Catechism for Children, by John Jaques; Deseret News, 14 vols.; Journal of Discourses, 6 vols.; Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, London, 26 volumes.

_Brigham's Theology; or Utah Mormonism._

The doctrines taught and practised by the present head of the Mormon Church differ so much from the previously established tenets of the church, that they require a separate consideration.

One of the most important innovations upon the established doctrines of the church, is in relation to the Godhead. In April, 1852, Brigham put forth the startling doctrine that Adam is God, and to be recognized and honored as such! This announcement created some consternation among the Mormon theologians, and some of them had the courage to oppose it. The following is the "Revelator's" own exposition of this doctrine:--

"When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father
had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by
the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? _He is the first of the
human family_; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten
by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the
tabernacle of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and
daughters of Adam and Eve. . . . It is true that the earth was
organized by three distinct characters, namely: Elohim,
Yahovah, and Michael, [Adam;] these three forming a quorum, as
in all heavenly bodies, and in organized element perfectly
represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

"When our Father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came
with a celestial body, and brought _Eve, one of his wives_,
with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is
Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days. _He is our Father
and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do._ . . .
Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the
same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our
Father in heaven."[157:A]

It is manifest that Young is not so much at home in theology as when engaged in financial schemes and money speculations. So disgusting and blasphemous are these ideas, and so unacceptable were they, even to Mormons, who were not prepared to see the basis of their religion thus rudely overthrown, that Brigham finally felt compelled to caution the Elders not to preach the new doctrine concerning Deity, until the people should be better prepared to receive them.

Mahomet is the great exemplar and prototype whom Brigham Young aims to imitate, and doubtless he took from the Koran his ideas about the deity of Adam. Thus in chapter two of the Koran, we have the following:--

"And when we said unto the angels, 'worship Adam,' they all
worshipped him, except Eblis, [Lucifer,] who refused."

From the following affidavit of John Stiles, father of Judge Stiles, formerly one of the United States Judges in Utah, a man of much probity of character, and well known in Salt Lake City as "Father Stiles," it appears that the blasphemous pretensions of Brigham Young do not stop with Adam, but that, among the brethren, he has encouraged a doctrine, which he dare not put in print;--no less than _to arrogate to himself the attributes of Deity_.

"TERRITORY OF UTAH, } _ss._
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. }

"In the spring of 1856," John Stiles says, "I resided in the
11th Ward of Great Salt Lake City, in the Territory of Utah. I
was appointed by the quorum to which I then belonged, as a
Missionary High-Priest for the said Ward. My duty was to look
after the morals of the people of the Ward, and especially to
see that there was no false doctrine taught there. I
subsequently found that there were not only immoralities, but
also false doctrines among some of the people, as I supposed
at the time. Many people believed and taught the doctrine,
that Brigham Young was all the _God_ that we were amenable to.
I found by opposing that doctrine, that I gave offence to the
authorities of the Ward, and was consequently called to answer
for my opposition before the Bishop of the Ward, although he
had no jurisdiction over me. As a High-Priest I was amenable
to a higher authority, but not to him.

"In a public assembly he wished me to state my views on the
question, whether _if Brigham Young was not God, who was?_ I
told him I would do so. I rose and stated that my idea of the
being of God was expressed in a passage of Scripture, and I
need only repeat the passage to explain the idea. The passage
was: 'To us there is but one God, _the Father_, of whom are
all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
are all things, and we by Him.' I subsequently, in
explanation, cited this passage of Scripture: 'This is life
eternal, that we might know thee, the only living and true
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' I then sat down,
and the Bishop rose and said: 'Brethren, we perceive that
Father Stiles runs round Brigham.' I replied, 'Yes; I do not
mention Brigham Young on the same day with God, as of the same
Godhead.' His (the Bishop's) First Counsellor, then moved that
Father Stiles be cut off from the church. This was seconded
by the Second Counsellor. This was proposed to the assembly as
a question by the Bishop, and I was cut off accordingly. I
subsequently discovered that by my opposition and explanation,
I gave offence to the authorities of the Mormon Church, and
was cut off from the church and dismissed from the place of
Missionary High-Priest of that Ward. I have never been
restored as Missionary High-Priest.

(Signed,) JOHN STILES.

"Sworn to and subscribed before me at Great Salt Lake City,
this April 26th, 1864.

"JOHN TITUS,

"_Ch. Justice of Utah_."

Another doctrine of a startling character, promulgated by one of Young's counsellors and endorsed by him, is that of _human sacrifice for the remission of sins_.

It was first announced by Jedediah M. Grant, Second Counsellor to the President, in the following language:--

"Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your
sins. And you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven
through baptism, _let your blood be shed, and let the smoke
ascend_, that the incense thereof may come up before God as an
atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be
afraid."[159:A]

Again:--

"We have been trying long enough with this people, and I go in
for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, _not only
in word, but in deed_."[159:B]

In accordance with such bloody teaching, it is said that an altar of sacrifice was actually built by Grant, in the temple block, upon which these human sacrifices were to be made. On the 21st of September, 1856, Grant said:--

"I say there are men and women here that I would advise to go
to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a
committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be
selected, and let that committee shed their blood."[159:C]

This horrible proposal to immolate upon the altar of sacrifice the erring saints, was fully endorsed by Brigham Young as follows:--

"There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive
forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come; and if
they had their eyes open to see their condition, _they would
be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the
ground_, that the smoke thereof might ascend to Heaven as an
offering for their sins, and the smoking incense would atone
for their sins; whereas, if such is not the case, they will
stick to them, and remain upon them in the spirit-world.

"I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting
people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong
doctrine. It is to save them, not to destroy them. I will say
further, I have had men come to me, and offer their lives to
atone for their sins. It is true that the blood of the Son of
God was shed for sins, through the fall, and those committed
by man, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. As
it was in ancient days, so it is in our day; and though the
principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the
people do not understand them; yet the Law is precisely the
same. There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering
upon the altar, as in ancient days, and there are sins that
the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle-doves cannot
remit, _but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man_.
That is the reason why men talk to you as they do from this
stand. They understand the doctrine, and throw out a few words
about it."[160:A]

But the greatest change of all in the Mormon religion, made by Brigham Young, was the introduction and establishment of polygamy.

This was no part of the Mormon system of religion as originally established. On the contrary, it was expressly repudiated by all the Mormon writers and speakers, previous to 1852, and in Europe for some years afterward.

The Mormon religion was founded by Joseph Smith and his coadjutors, and the principles and doctrines of the religion were, in the first instance, such as they established. The Book of Mormon is the historical foundation, corresponding with the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Afterward, a volume of revelations to Smith and others was collected and published, called the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. This corresponds to the Christian's New Testament. It may be safely asserted, therefore, that previous to the innovations of Young, the Mormon religion was embodied in these two volumes. Their authority in the church is universal and unquestioned.

Let us examine these volumes, and see whether they teach or countenance polygamy.

The Book of Mormon nowhere contains a word in favor of it. On the contrary all of its principal characters were monogamists. Such was Lehi, the patriarch of Mormon history. Such also were Ishmael and Nephi.[161:A] That the people of Zarahemla were monogamists, is evident from what is said concerning them on page 146.

But we are not left to inference as to the testimony of this volume concerning this practice. On page 119 we have the following:--

"Behold the Lamanites, your brethren, whom ye hate because of
their filthiness and the cursings which hath come upon their
skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not
forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto
our fathers, that they should have, save it were one wife; and
concubines they should have none; and there should not be
whoredoms committed among them. And now, this commandment they
observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in
keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them,
but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become
a blessed people."[161:B]

Again:--

"And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was
right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and
concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which was
grievous to be borne; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes;
and with the taxes he did build many spacious
buildings."[162:A]

And again:--

"And he [Noah] did not walk in the ways of his father.
[Zeniff.] For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God,
but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had
many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to
commit sin, and to do that which was abominable in the sight
of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner
of wickedness. And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they
possessed." . . . "All this did he take to support himself, and
his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their
wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of
the kingdom."[162:B]

"And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches,
and he spent his time in riotous living, with his wives and
his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time
with harlots."[162:C]

As if to place this matter beyond any question, we have the following still more explicit testimony, on pages 115 and 118:--

"And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the
reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts
and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as
like unto David of old, desiring many wives and concubines,
and also Solomon his son." . . .

"The word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes.
For behold, thus saith the Lord, this people begin to wax in
iniquity; they understand not the Scriptures; for they seek to
excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the
things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his
son. Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and
concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the
Lord: wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people
forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm,
that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the
fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God, will
not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of
the Lord; for there shall not any man among you have, save it
be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; for I, the
Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women. And whoredoms
are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of
Hosts."[163:A]

Here it is stated as coming from God himself, that the polygamy and concubinage of David and Solomon were abominable before the Lord. And yet we every day hear David and Solomon, as well as Abraham, Jacob, and others, cited by those practising polygamy, as their illustrious prototypes, whose example is worthy of all imitation.

Orson Pratt, the ablest writer on Mormon theology, is compelled to admit that the Book of Mormon is opposed to polygamy. He says:--

"Do you believe that the Book of Mormon is a divine
revelation? We do. Does that book teach the doctrine of
plurality of wives? It does not. Does the Lord in that book
forbid the plurality doctrine? He forbid the ancient Nephites
to have any more than one wife."[163:B]

Elder Pratt then endeavors to blunt the force of this testimony in the following manner:--

"Why were the ancient Nephites restricted to the one-wife
system? Because, first, the number of males and females among
them, at the time the command was given, was about equal.
Secondly, there was no probability that judgments, wars, or
any other calamities which were to befall their nation, would
produce a disproportionate number of males and females.
Thirdly, this small remnant of the tribe of Joseph, were, at
that time, about equally righteous; and one was about as
capable of raising up a family in righteousness as another.
And, lastly, the Lord himself informs them, in the same
connection with the quotation which I have just made, that if
He would have them practise differently from what He had
previously taught them, it must be by His command."[164:A]

Thus, in the attempt to weaken the force of the evidence furnished by the Book of Mormon against polygamy, Pratt acknowledges, in the most explicit manner, the validity of the argument against it, founded upon the equality in the numbers of each sex. Two of the four reasons why the Nephites were to retain monogamy, relate to the equality in the numbers of the sexes. But there is a substantial equality in the numbers of the sexes, not only in the United States, but in Utah Territory. (See U. S. Census.)

Let us now turn to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and see if we can find in that volume any authority for polygamy. The following passages will determine the question:--

"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave
unto her, and none else; and he that looketh upon a woman to
lust after her, shall deny the faith, and shall not have the
spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out."[164:B]

Again. In 1845, the year after Smith's death, an Appendix was authoritatively added to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, containing the following, which is extracted from the section entitled "Marriage":--

"2. Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and
thanksgiving; and at the solemnization, the persons to be
married standing together," etc., "he [the person officiating]
shall say, calling each by their names, 'you both mutually
agree to be each other's companion, husband and wife,
observing the legal rights belonging to this condition; that
is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all
others, during your lives.' And when they have answered
'yes,' he shall pronounce them 'husband and wife,' in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ and by virtue of the laws of the
country, and authority vested in him. . . .

"4. . . . Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached
with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we
believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but
one husband, except in case of death, when either is at
liberty to marry again."[165:A]

Can anything be more explicit than this? Polygamy is not only expressly repudiated by the church, but is classed by the side of fornication as a crime.

Thus we find that polygamy is contrary to both books of the Mormon Bible. That it is, in fact, strongly condemned in those volumes.

It is, therefore, no part of the Mormon religion, as given to the world by Joseph Smith.

But polygamy is practised in Utah. Whence did it arise, and upon what foundation does it rest?

Like slavery, and all other great social evils, it had its origin, doubtless, in an abuse of the passions of man.

It was first publicly announced and recommended in Utah Territory on the 29th of August, 1852, by Orson Pratt and Brigham Young, at a politico-religious meeting, held in Great Salt Lake City.

On that occasion, President Young said:--

"You heard Brother Pratt state, this morning, that a
Revelation would be read this afternoon, which was given
previous to Joseph's death. It contains a doctrine a small
portion of the world is opposed to; but I can deliver a
prophecy upon it. Though that doctrine has not been preached
by the Elders, this people have believed in it for years.

"The original copy of this Revelation was burnt up. William
Clayton was the man who wrote it from the mouth of the
Prophet. In the mean time it was in Bishop Whitney's
possession. He wished the privilege to copy it, which Brother
Joseph granted. Sister Emma (wife of Joseph Smith) burnt the
original. The reason I mention this is, because that the
people who did know of the Revelation, suppose it was not now
in existence.

"The Revelation will be read to you. The principle spoken upon
by Brother Pratt this morning, we believe in.

. . . "Many others are of the same mind. They are not ignorant
of what we are doing in our social capacity. They have cried
out proclaim it; but it would not do a few years ago;
everything must come in its time, as there is a time to all
things. I am now ready to proclaim it.

"This Revelation has been in my possession many years; and who
has known it? None but those who should know it. I keep a
patent lock on my desk, and there does not anything leak out
that should not."[166:A]

The Revelation, so called, which was read at the close of this sermon, purports to have been given to Joseph Smith, July 12, 1843. It is very lengthy, consisting of twenty-five sections or paragraphs. It is published in full, in Burton's "City of the Saints," and in various other publications. The following synopsis exhibits all that is essential of this extraordinary Revelation.

THE REVELATION.