of the blind may see out of obscurity, the erring come to understanding, and the murmuring learn doctrine. THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS VS. MORMONS. It must not be supposed that the Book of Mormon has aught to do with the people of Utah, who, unfortunately, are graced with the misnomer "Mormons." The book in no shape or manner indorses that miserable institution; to the contrary it inveighs against their accursed characteristic in unstinted terms: 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 unto 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.-Page 116. It may be interesting to know just how the "Mormons" came into possession of the name, which, through them, has become so sadly sullied. Upon the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1830, this being its official name, singular success attended it. In a few years it had spread to all parts of the United States, the Canadas, and the British Isles. As might be expected, the ensign of the restoration occupied a conspicuous place and naturally attracted foremost attention; hence arose the nickname "Mormon." At that time the name signified nothing more nor less than a belief in the Book of Mormon. There were no charges of immorality, not the remotest; and polygamy was unheard of. Matters progressed favorably, the church experiencing a phenomenal growth, tens of thousands accepting the new-found faith. In those days the storm of persecution was raging, and culminated in the assassination of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in June, 1844. They were not executed after the decree of any court, but were murdered by a treacherous mob overpowering those to whom had been delegated the duty of protecting the Prophet, while awaiting trial upon trumped up charges. In this work they were led, as usual, by a reverend divine, Mr. Williams, who, unable to down the Saints with the Bible, proposed to do it by the bullet. Upon the death of these prominent persons trouble arose within the church, occasioned by the undue ambition of some who were overanxious to lead. This ought not to have been, since the revelations to the church, previously accepted and adopted, clearly indicated who the successor should be. It was Joseph, the son of Joseph. More or less confusion existing, usurpers became busy. With them it was a policy of now or never, and from this time forward dates the beginning of several apostate factions, among them one known as the Salt Lake Mormons, or Brighamites. This was started by Brigham Young, once a Methodist, later a Latter Day Saint, but who, becoming enamored with the love of rule, succeeded in obtaining authority over a portion of the church, leading them to Utah in 1847. His ascendancy was gained by craft and cunning. At first he made no claims for the presiding office, but once getting his followers in a tight place he soon set up his reign and rule. His leadership, however, was never indorsed by the church, and out of a membership of two hundred thousand, possibly eight or ten thousand followed him. Upon his arrival in Utah he ordered all to be rebaptized, and many of his prominent ministers were reordained; thus establishing a new and separate institution. An unfortunate feature about the whole affair was that he retained the name of the original church. This is the policy of the counterfeiter, who, notwithstanding the spuriousness of his coin, denominates it with the legal name. Going from bad to worse, he eventually introduced polygamy, the earmark of Utahism. Then it was that the name "Mormon" partook of evil, since this name, contracted by them when in fellowship with the true church, still followed. The doctrine of polygamy originated with apostates long after the death of Joseph Smith, as the following from Chambers' Encyclopedia will show: It may be here stated that it can not be shown that Smith was a polygamist. It was not till August, 1852, at a public meeting held in Salt Lake City that it was formally received. Rigdon, Kimball, Pratt, Hyde, and Young are its true originators. Whatever the corruptions of Salt Lakeism, they ought not to be charged to the church from which they departed. If so, then we may stigmatize Methodism also, since, forsooth, Brigham was once a member of that body. That the church in Utah is a departure from the church as organized by Joseph Smith is proved by the following extract from the decision of a law court held at Kirtland, Ohio, in 1882. That the church in Utah, the Defendant of which John Taylor is President, has materially and largely departed from the faith, doctrines, laws, ordinances and usages of said original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and has incorporated into its system of faith the doctrines of Celestial Marriage and a plurality of wives, and the doctrine of Adam-God worship, contrary to the laws and constitution of said original Church. And the Court do further find that the Plaintiff, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the True and Lawful continuation of, and Successor to the said original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, organized in 1830, and is entitled in law to all its rights and property. This decision was later affirmed in 1893 in the verdict of the Appellate Court in Missouri in the famous Temple Lot Suit. It is quite evident, therefore, that the Reorganized Church is the "continuation of and successor" to the original church as set up in 1830. It was called a reorganization, not because of any cessation of spiritual authority, but rather because of a resumption of organized labor previously prevented by the woeful scattering of the Saints following the death of the two martyrs. No doctrinal changes have been introduced. Never an alteration or an amendment of the terms and tenets of the church as laid down in 1830. They have stood unalterably the same. It did not require any change. "Whatsoever God doeth it shall be for ever."-Ecclesiastes 3: 14. Our attitude on the marriage question is, as it always was, strictly monogamic. The following was received by the church through Joseph Smith in 1831 and was adopted as a rule of action: President of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shall 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. -Doctrine and Covenants 42: 7. And again, I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man; wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh.-Doctrine and Covenants 49: 3. It will be seen, therefore, that the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the church were unitedly and uncompromisingly arrayed against polygamy. Of the Prophet Joseph Smith we have nothing to say other than he was a pure-minded man of God. His works will show: "By their fruits ye shall know them." And this humble statement of the faith and practices of the church he was the instrument of organizing, will readily solve the question as to the quality of the fruit. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. has been actively occupying since 1851. True, it has been up-hill work, but thanks be to God, we have reached that time when the name, Latter Day Saint, has become honorable in the land. Joseph, the son of Joseph, now in his seventy-ninth year, still presides over the body with dignity and skill. He lives at Independence, Missouri, where also are the headquarters of the church. AUTHORS REFERRED TO. In order to furnish the reader more complete information respecting the authorities referred to, and which was scarcely permissible in the body of the work, we here subjoin an alphabetical list, together with time and place of publishing. Auberlen, Dr. Carl, professor of theology, Basil, Daniel and the Revelation; Edinburgh, 1856. Allwood, Rev. P., B. D., Key to the Revelation, etc., two volumes; London, 1829. Bible, The Bishops', A. D. 1577. Bible, The Breeches; London, 1609. Bible, The King James; 1611. Bible, New Testament, Revised Version,, 1880; Robert D. Weeks' Version, New Brewer, Rev. E. C., LL. D., Historic Note Book; Philadelphia, 1901. Benson, Rev. Joseph; New Testament Commentary, three volumes, published for the Methodist Episcopal Church; New York, 1839. Bolton, Rev. W. J., M. A., The Great Antichrist; 1852. Bickersteth, Rev. Ed., Practical Guide to the Prophecies, ninth edition; London, 1852. Barnes, Albert; Notes on Daniel; New York, 1853. Blackburn, W. M., D. D., professor of church history, Chicago; History of the Christian Church, 1880. Bland, Harcourt; Apocalyptical History; Glasgow, 1858. Braund, James H., History and Revelation, four volumes; London, 1875. Bowers' History of the Popes; London, 1750. Birkhæuser, Rev. J. A., History of the Church, Milwaukee. Brown, Rev. J. A., The Eventide, two volumes; London, 1823. Brown, Rev. James, D. D., The Book of Revelation; London, 1810. Cunninghame, William; A Dissertation on the Seals and Trumpets of the Apocalypse; London, 1832. Curtis, Chandler; The Mystery of Iniquity Unveiled; Boston, 1866. Case, Rev. Ira; Light on Prophecy; Providence, 1871. Campbell, David; Illustrations of Prophecy, second edition; Boston, 1841. Century Dictionary and Encyclopedic Lexicon. Cox, Elder Jesse, Exposition of the Revelation; Nashville, 1873. Croley, Rev. George, A. M., The Apocalypse of Saint John; London, 1827. Cummings, Rev. John, D. D., Lectures on the Book of Daniel; Philadelphia, 1856. Culbertson, Rev. Robert, Lectures on the Book of Revelation, three volumes; D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, five volumes; New York. Durny's General History of the World; New York, 1898. Durham, Rev. James, Commentarie on Book of Revelation; Edinburgh, 1658. Elliott, Rev. E. B., M. A., Horæ Apocalypticæ, four volumes, fifth edition; Elliott, Rev. E. B., M. A., Destinies and Perils of the Church, Warburton Lectures, 1849-1853; London, 1859. |