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The Foundations of Mormonism 
 
Lieut. General Joseph Smith, Jr. 
 
 Prophet and Founder of Mornionism. 
 
The Foundations of 
 Mormonism 
 
 A Study of the Fundamental Facts 
 in the History and Doctrines of the 
 Mormons from Original Sources 
 
 By, 
 
 WILLIAM EARL LA RUE, b. D. 
 
 With Introduction by 
 ALFRED WILLIAMS ANTHONY, D. D. 
 
 New York Chicago 
 
 Fleming H. Revell Company 
 
 London and Edinburgh 
 
Copyright, 19 19, by 
 FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 
 
 Published for the Home Mission's 
 Council and the Council of 
 Women for Home Missions. 
 
 New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
 Chicago : 1 7 North Wabash Ave. 
 London: 21 Paternoster Square 
 Edinburgh; 75 Princes Street 
 
Introduction 
 
 CONTEOVERSIAL writings seldom ac- 
 complish much good; but judicial in- 
 vestigations, which discover and dis- 
 close facts, in a spirit of justice and courtesy, 
 are worthy of, and usually receive a fair hear- 
 ing. This book is a judicial essay in the domain 
 of candid history. 
 
 The author has discovered and here brought 
 together matter from original documents bear- 
 ing on the origin and history of all branches of 
 the Mormon Church. The authenticity and 
 very existence of some of these documents have 
 been denied. The facts and verbiage of others, 
 which have been given to the i)ublic, have been 
 so garbled as to misrepresent the originals and 
 utterly mislead those reading them. 
 
 The facts herewith presented are such that 
 they must be either accepted or disproved — a 
 simple denial, no matter how earnest or con- 
 scientious will not suface. 
 
 Owing to the active propaganda of Mormon- 
 ism there has been a pressing demand for such 
 a work as this. It is hoped that this book will 
 
 5 
 
6 INTRODUCTION 
 
 meet a real public need because of the accuracy 
 and reliability of the matter set forth. 
 
 The book is designed to meet the needs of 
 Christian workers who come in contact with 
 Mormon proselyting activities and supply them 
 with practical information. 
 
 This work should also appeal to the intelli- 
 gent class among the Mormons. If the founda- 
 tions upon which Mormonism is built are un- 
 stable, none should be so concerned as the Mor- 
 mons themselves. This the author has, in no 
 spirit of bitterness, endeavoured to show. The 
 results of his earnest and patient study he here 
 sets down for the consideration of others and it 
 is with pleasure that we commend the book to 
 those interested. 
 
 Alfred Willlajvis Anthony. 
 
 Executive Secretary 
 Home Missions Council. 
 
Contents 
 
 Preface 1} 
 
 The character of Mormonism — 
 Built about the personality of 
 Joseph Smith its founder — A re- 
 ligious and political autocracy — 
 The sects of Mormonism — The 
 importance of historical consid- 
 erations — A challenge and its 
 acceptance. 
 
 I. Mormon History . . . . 19 
 
 The movements and chief 
 events from the birth of the 
 founder in 1805 to his death in 
 1844 — Necessity for careful re- 
 consideration of the historical 
 sources — Tendency to edit the 
 sources in present day accounts 
 of the formative period — Under 
 Smith the Church was restless 
 — Under Young it settled down 
 to one location — The Reorgan- 
 ized Church a modified form of 
 Mormonism. 
 
 II. Joseph Smith, Jr 41 
 
 The conviction that he was a 
 true Prophet of Jehovah — 
 Reared in an atmosphere of 
 superstition — Like Mohammed 
 — Outbreaks of fanaticisms in 
 history — Smith's extravagant 
 claims — Some of his prophecies 
 — Holding political offices — 
 Followers lose faith in him — 
 His inner life — His use of mys- 
 tery — Mormonism, the religion 
 of a man. 
 
 7 
 
8 CONTEJ^TS 
 
 III. '* The Book OF Mormon'^ ... 62 
 
 Chief sacred book — Smith's ac- 
 count of its origin — Its claim 
 to be in fulfillment of Bible 
 prophecy — The testimony of the 
 "witnesses" — Strange corre- 
 sponding events — Rival methods 
 of interpretation — Appearance 
 of Angels under various con- 
 ditions — Smith's denunciation 
 of the " witnesses " — The book, 
 a fabrication reflecting current 
 moral and religious issues of 
 its time and locality — Quota- 
 tions from Scripture — Later edi- 
 tions changed — Its failure to fill 
 its own defined purpose — Its 
 teaching a source of contention 
 — It was produced in a corner. 
 
 IV. ** The Book OF Commandments" . . 83 
 
 Smith's revelations in print — 
 Superseded by the book Doc- 
 trine and Covenants — many rev- 
 elations changed — Apologies for 
 these changes — The changed 
 revelations in contrast — Proof 
 that they were in book form — 
 The language alarms the Mis- 
 sourians. 
 
 V. **The Book of Doctrine and Cove- 
 
 nants" 03 
 
 Contains the revised revela- 
 tions of Smith— Separate edi- 
 tions by the Utah, and the Re- 
 organized Church — "Carefully 
 selected " revelations — Manner 
 of receiving revelations — Gen- 
 eral teaching of the book inter- 
 mixed with schemes revealing 
 deception — Smith's use of reve- 
 lation to attain personal advan- 
 tage — Growth of Mysticism — 
 Baptism for the dead — Origin 
 
CONTENTS 9 
 
 of the secret endowment cere- 
 monies — Some of the excluded 
 revelations. 
 
 VI. " Book OF Abraham " . . . .11$ 
 
 Accepted only by the Utah 
 Church — Its origin — Genuine 
 product of the pen of Joseph 
 Smith — Evaded by the Reor- 
 ganized Church — Polytheistic 
 teaching— Bishop Spalding uses 
 this as test of Smith's inspira- 
 tional powers — Opinions of 
 scholars — A vital blow to Mor- 
 monism — The inconsistency of 
 the Reorganized Church in re- 
 fusing it. 
 
 VII. The Holy Scriptures . . . .125 
 
 Smith attempts a translation of 
 the Scriptures by revelation — 
 Finished in 1833 but not pub- 
 lished until 1867 — Accepted only 
 by the Reorganized Church- 
 Methods employed — The new 
 translation is made to read in 
 support of Smith's pretensions 
 — A test of his inspiration — Dis- 
 regarded by modern scholarship 
 — Mormon preachers use it 
 rarely. 
 
 VIII. Mormon Doctrines . . . .136 
 
 Summarized by Smith — Most 
 important doctrines not in- 
 cluded — Doctrines in the mak- 
 ing—Charismatic gifts tested — 
 Smith's successors give revela- 
 tions — Few revelations in later 
 history of Mormonism — Prac- 
 tical genius more successful. 
 
 IX. Mormon Organization . . . . i$i 
 
 Great in number and variety — 
 Hierarchy headed by the Proph- 
 et — Two priesthoods — Nearly 
 
10 CONTENTS 
 
 every male member a priest of 
 some grade — Recruits mostly 
 from evangelical churches — Its 
 dealing with material wealth — 
 Its political power — Smith a 
 King — Aspires to be President 
 of the United States — Mormon 
 domination in Illinois — In Utah. 
 
 X. Missouri's Defense . . . .160 
 
 Why did the State expel the 
 Mormons? — The State published 
 the facts upon which it based 
 its action in 1841 — Facts given 
 by leading Mormons — The or- 
 ganization of the Danites to 
 commit depredations on its citi- 
 zens brought about the charge 
 of high treason — The attack 
 upon the State Militia by the 
 Mormons and the appeals of 
 citizens for protection against 
 them induced the Governor to 
 issue the order to exterminate, 
 or drive them from the State — 
 Mormons drove out Mormons 
 by threat of vengeance — The 
 threat of extermination came 
 first from the Mormons — Their 
 conduct c©ulcl not be tolerated 
 in a free State — This State docu- 
 ment known but to few. 
 
 XI. Gathering to Zion . . . .179 
 A leading principle of Mormon- 
 ism — Winning arguments from 
 Scripture and social inequalities 
 — Failure at Independence, 
 Missouri, in 1833 — Failure at 
 Far West, Missouri, in 1838 — 
 Failure at Nauvoo, Illinois, in 
 1844 — A fruitful opportunity 
 for Mormon leaders to exploit 
 their followers. 
 
CONTENTS 11 
 
 XII. The Nauvoo Expositor . . .193 
 
 Brought about greatest crisis in 
 Mormonism — Leading Mor- 
 mons tell the world the secrets 
 of inner iniquity — Facts concern- 
 ing covered over — The evils 
 recited in a set of resolutions — 
 Smith influences the City Coun- 
 cil to demolish the press — The 
 chief cause of Smith's death. 
 
 XIII. Mormon Polygamy . . . .205 
 
 Subject of controversy among 
 Mormons — Utah Church defends 
 — Reorganized Church repu- 
 diates — Its origin with Prophet 
 Smith shown by affidavits in 
 the Expositor and his admis- 
 sions as given in the Nauvoo 
 Neighbor recently discovered — 
 The facts covered and not 
 widely known — Revelation re- 
 ferred to by Smith in exact ac- 
 cord with that found in Utah 
 Church's books — Admissions by 
 the son and namesake of the 
 Prophet — Denials of polygamy 
 repeated — Made for a purpose — 
 The statement of the Prophet's 
 wife cannot be credited in the 
 light of printed statements at 
 the time — In early days of Re- 
 organized Church its leading 
 men admitted what is now de- 
 nied — the books of Mormonism 
 may be interpreted as teaching 
 polygamy — The doctrine came 
 in by falsehood and deceit — 
 The Reorganized Church would 
 shun the shame — The Utah 
 Church bears it as the leading 
 of the Prophet. 
 
 Conclusion 23$ 
 
 Bibliography 240 
 
Preface 
 
 THE groundwork of this book was pre- 
 sented to the Faculty of the Kochester 
 Theological Seminary, as a thesis, by 
 the author in candidacy for the degree of 
 Bachelor of Divinity. 
 
 The work was done under the tutelage of the 
 late Doctor Walter Eauschenbusch, Professor 
 of Church History. 
 
 The author has prepared the thesis for pub- 
 lication for the following reasons. First, the 
 Faculty were of the opinion that the thesis was 
 a real contribution to the literature on Mor- 
 monism and advised its publication. Second, 
 the author believes there exists a need for such 
 a book as this. There is a vast amount of 
 literature on the subject of Mormonism; but 
 many volumes are defective in that they fail to 
 give a sufficient treatment of things which are 
 fundamental. 
 
 The subject of Mormonism has been a matter 
 of increasing public interest for several years. 
 It is very likely to continue so in years to come. 
 The busy person needs guidance in obtaining 
 
 13 
 
14 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 correct information regarding this new system 
 of religion. For this purpose we have endeav- 
 ored to deal only with fundamental things, and 
 in the briefest manner possible. 
 
 Mormon missionaries are very active propa- 
 gandists and this book will supx)ly very valuable 
 information to any person who is considering 
 the acceptance of Mormonism as a religion. 
 The people have the right to know the facts here 
 presented. There is a lamentable amount of 
 ignorance on the part of the general public con- 
 cerning this subject. The ignorance of the 
 Mormons concerning the fundamental facts of 
 their religion is astounding. 
 
 This book is published with the firm convic- 
 tion that it will prove to be a valuable and 
 practical help to all who are interested. It is 
 not to be construed as an unsympathetic attack 
 upon the Mormon people. Many of the Mor- 
 mons are known to be devout and sincere in 
 their faith; many of them possess a goodly 
 degree of moral character. 
 
 The author honestly believes that Mormonism 
 is false in its fundamental claims and deceptive 
 in its character, and, notwithstanding this, he 
 has made a conscious effort to deal with the mat- 
 ter in a spirit that would commend itself to all. 
 
 Mormonism is a new religion. It is one of 
 the many sects that arose in the nineteenth 
 century. It is purely an American product 
 
PEEFACE 15 
 
 possessing great vitality and surviving power. 
 As a religion it is syncretistic in character. It 
 blends within itself a mixture of ideas, ijrin- 
 ciples, emotions, and crude conceptions of 
 American frontier life of an hundred years ago. 
 As it has grown it has added many new and 
 strange practices. 
 
 It belongs outside the historical stream flow- 
 ing out of the religious life of past generations. 
 From the beginning it disclaimed connection 
 with all other forms of religion. It denounces 
 all other creeds as wrong and all other profess- 
 ors of religion as corrupt. 
 
 It claims to be the one and only true faith. 
 It claims to be Christian, although there has 
 been no fellowship with it on the part of any 
 Christian denomination. It is a religious and 
 political autocracy. It is clannish, selfish, and 
 uncompromising. Like Mohammedanism it 
 stands alone. 
 
 It has contributed a sad and unfortunate 
 chapter in the history of the United States. It 
 has been a constant source of annoyance to the 
 government, by reason of its colonizing schemes, 
 its unchristian practices, its political power, 
 and concentrated wealth. 
 
 Its aggressive missionary policy has brought 
 it into open conflict with all Christian Churches. 
 The recruits for Mormonism have come largely 
 from the membership of these Churches. 
 
16 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 As Mormonism has grown, it has developed 
 sects and factions within itself. The two 
 principal sects are: "The Church of Jesus 
 Christ of Latter Day Saints," — ^with head- 
 quarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, — and "The 
 Eeorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter 
 Day Saints,'^ — with headquarters in Lamoni, 
 Iowa.' 
 
 There is no fellowship between these sects. 
 The Eeorganized Church is anti-polygamous in 
 belief, and it has persistently endeavored to 
 vindicate Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormon- 
 ism, from complicity in the introduction of that 
 nefarious doctrine. 
 
 This book proceeds upon the assumption that 
 no institution can ever detach itself from its 
 historical connections. If Mormonism is false 
 and deceptive, as we believe it to be, the facts 
 in proof of such a conviction can most effectu- 
 ally be gleaned from its history and funda- 
 mental affirmations. In short, it is the his- 
 torical method that we are here attempting 
 to use. 
 
 The author has spent much time in a diligent 
 study of the earliest literature pertaining to 
 Mormonism, in order to discover its real char- 
 acter. In addition to this, the author speaks 
 out of personal experience and acquaintance 
 
 1 These sects will hereinafter be referred to as, « The Utah 
 Church " and " The Reorganized Church." 
 
PEEFACE 17 
 
 with the people and the teachings of the Mor- 
 mon system. 
 
 He appeals, especially, to the young and ris- 
 ing generations of the Mormon people, to seri- 
 ously consider the facts set forth in this book 
 and to resolve to be guided by the truth regard- 
 less of cost. 
 
 On the front of the New York City Public 
 Library may be seen the following inscription 
 chiselled in the white marble : 
 
 ^^ But Above All Things Truth Beareth 
 Away the Victory/' 
 
 It was from within this great library, from 
 the wonderful collection of old and original 
 documents relating to Mormonism, that the 
 principal materials for this book were gathered. 
 Truth will bear away the victory for all who 
 will exercise discernment to discover her; she 
 will lighten the way for all who have the cour- 
 age to follow in her light. 
 
 Mormonism has always been opposed and it 
 is highly probable that it ever will be. There 
 must be some reason for this. The Mormons 
 will attempt to account for it on the basis of 
 religious persecution. A study of the follow- 
 ing pages will show that the opposition against 
 Mormonism has been because of the extrava- 
 gance of its claims, its fanaticism, its immoral, 
 and unchristian practices. 
 
18 THE FOUNDATIOl^S OF MOEMOKISM 
 
 One of the Mormon leaders has recently indi- 
 cated how the Mormons may be impressed by 
 outside influences. He says : 
 
 * * You can only reach them by showing them some- 
 thing fundamentally wrong in their Church structure 
 or belief, or in the standard books of the Church — 
 such as the Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Cove- 
 nants — published during the life of Joseph Smith. ' ' * 
 
 We have accepted this challenge and ask for 
 a patient and careful consideration of the mat- 
 ter set forth in the following chapters. 
 
 The Author. 
 Rochester, N. Y., February, 1919. 
 
 2 A pamphlet entitled '« An open letter to the Clergy," by E. A. 
 Smith, p. 14, (R). 
 
 Note. — The Reorganized Church does not like to be called by 
 name " Mormon." However, when its first president, Joseph 
 Smith, took his place he said : " In taking the head of the Mormon 
 Church I am running counter to the opinions of many people." — 
 Heraldy Vol. I, No. 7, p. 169. In the •' Doctrine and Covenants," 
 113:7, the whole movement is referred to as " Mormonism." 
 Hence the author justifies his references by these statements. 
 
 All references to publications of the Reorganized Church will be 
 designated (R). Those of the Utah Church (U). 
 
MOEMON HISTORY 
 
 THE history of Mormonism begins with 
 the date of the birth of its founder, 
 Joseph Smith, who was born Decem- 
 ber 23, 1805, at Sharon, Vermont. 
 
 When Smith was about ten years of age, his 
 father and family removed to Palmyra, New 
 York. In a few years thereafter the family 
 moved to Manchester, a town near Palmyra. 
 It was here that Smith claimed to have his first 
 supernatural vision in the spring of the year 
 1820, when fifteen years of age. His mind was 
 agitated over the matter of religion and he re- 
 lates that he had gone into the woods to pray. 
 While praying he suddenly saw two personages 
 standing in the air ; one of them pointing to the 
 other said, " This is my beloved Son, hear him.'' ' 
 
 The message delivered, so he said, was that 
 he, Smith, should not join any of the Churches ; 
 for they were all wrong; their creeds were an 
 abomination in God's sight; the professors of 
 religion were all corrupt. 
 
 In the year 1823 he claimed to have another 
 visitation from a heavenly being who told him 
 of a book, which was written upon gold plates 
 
 » " Church History," (R), i ; 9. 
 
 19 
 
20 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 and was buried in the ground by former inhabit- 
 ants of this continent; that Smith was to trans- 
 late this book and give it to the world. 
 
 It was not until the year 1827 that he was 
 able to obtain possession of the Golden Plates. 
 From these mysterious plates he claimed to 
 translate the Booli of Mormon, the first edition 
 of which was printed at Palmyra, New York, 
 in 1830. 
 
 On the 6th of April, 1830, the Mormon 
 Church was organized at Fayette^ New York. 
 It was otherwise named, "The Church of 
 Christ." Later it was renamed, " The Church 
 of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." 
 
 In 1831, Smith and most of his followers left 
 New York and moved to Ohio, settling at a 
 place called Kirtland. Here the first Mormon 
 Temple was built and was dedicated in 1836. 
 
 In 1831, Smith and some of his followers went 
 on further into the western frontier in search 
 of a location suitable for a '^ Gathering place 
 for the Saints," his followers. 
 
 Choice was made of the town of Independ- 
 ence, Jackson County, Missouri. This was to 
 be the centre of the " Land of Zion." Smith 
 made choice of a spot of ground in this town 
 and solemnly dedicated it as a place where a 
 great Temple was to be reared. 
 
 Around this consecrated place the followers 
 of Smith began to gather. Here in June, 1832, 
 
MOEMON HISTOEY 21 
 
 the first Mormon periodical was issued, called 
 The Evening and the Morning Star, 
 
 Smith had taught his followers that the com- 
 ing of Christ was very near; that Christ by 
 revelation through hiin had commanded all the 
 faithful to gather as soon as possible to this \ 
 place ; that the world was ripening for destruc- 1 
 tion ; that those remaining outside of " Zion '' 
 would perish. 
 
 In the year 1833 another Church paper was 
 started at Kirtland, Ohio. It was called The 
 Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate. 
 
 During the same year the revelations which 
 Smith had received were printed in Missouri, 
 several of them appearing in the paper The 
 Evening and the Morning Star, They also ap- 
 peared in a book known as " The Book of Com- 
 mandments." 
 
 The non-Mormon inhabitants of Missouri be- 
 came alarmed on account of the large numbers 
 of Mormons who were moving in amongst them. 
 They understood that the Mormons were not 
 coming to settle as other neighbors. The Mor- 
 mons told them that God had chosen that land 
 for His people. 
 
 When the revelations of Smith were printed 
 they became known to the gentiles in Missouri, 
 and they aroused grave suspicions. The hyper- 
 bolical terms used in the revelations seemed very 
 strange. 
 
22 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 They told the Mormons they might obtain 
 the lands by " purchase or by blood." ' To a 
 westerner of those days the use of the word 
 " blood " in such a connection was a challenge 
 for instant action. That action was not de- 
 layed. 
 
 The printing press was destroyed and the 
 Mormons were ordered to leave. They crossed 
 the Missouri Kiver, taking up their abode tem- 
 porarily in Clay County. 
 
 The news of the desolation of his " Zion " had 
 been communicated to Smith at Kirtland, 
 whereupon he organized an army of more than 
 two hundred men/ and marched to Missouri in 
 obedience to one of his revelations/ with the 
 intention of bringing relief to his stranded fol- 
 lowers and restoring them upon their posses- 
 sions in Jackson County. This was the first 
 militaristic venture of the Mormon Church. 
 
 It is estimated that about twelve hundred 
 Mormons had been driven out of Jackson 
 County.' An effort has been made to modify 
 the real purpose of this army. As a matter of 
 fact, it went to Missouri prepared to fight/ but 
 upon arrival there it was confronted with over- 
 
 2" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 63 : 8. Quotations in this book 
 are from the Utah ed., (U), of 1880, and Lamoni ed., (R), 1901. 
 » " Church History," (R) , i : 462-464. 
 * «' Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 98 : 7. 
 6" Church History," (R), i ; 334. 
 • Idid., 1 : 454. 
 
MOEMON HISTORY 23 
 
 whelming numbers of Missourians who were 
 prepared to resist any attempt to enter Jackson 
 County. 
 
 Suddenly great storms and floods came and 
 the army was stricken with an epidemic of 
 cholera from which several died. In this mis- 
 erable plight Smith decided to disband the army 
 forthwith. Hence the expedition ended in 
 failure. 
 
 Smith attempted to pacify his deluded fol- 
 lowers by giving a revelation/ in which they 
 were told to wait until "my army'' becomes 
 "very great," then, "I will hold the armies 
 guiltless in taking possession of their own 
 lands . . . throwing down the towers of 
 mine enemies, that may be upon them . . . 
 and avenging me of mine enemies." 
 
 This militaristic expedition took place in the 
 
 year 1834. Keturning to Kirtland, the next 
 
 thing of importance was the publication of 
 
 j I " The Book of Doctrine and Covenants " in the 
 
 ! i year 1835. 
 
 During this year a traveller came to Kirtland, 
 exhibiting some Egyptian mummies and rolls of 
 papyrus. Smith bought these and later pre- 
 tended to translate from the rolls what he 
 \ called the " Book of Abraham." 
 
 During the time intervening, Smith had his 
 eye upon Missouri. Some of his followers had 
 
 ""* Doctrine and Covenants," (R), I02; 8, 9. 
 
24 THE FOUKDATIOKS OF MORMONISM 
 
 wandered northward from Clay County, to a 
 place known as Far West, in Caldwell County. 
 
 To this place Smith journeyed, accompanied 
 by several of his official party in 1837. Shortly 
 after his arrival there he announced that Adam 
 had made his home in that vicinity. What a 
 fitting place for the final gathering of the 
 Saints! A site for the building of a Temple 
 was chosen. The publication of another Mor- 
 mon paper began. It was called The Elders' 
 Journal, 
 
 The Mormons began to gather here in great 
 numbers. Trouble soon arose between them 
 and their gentile neighbors, culminating in an 
 order of the governor to " exterminate '' them or 
 drive them " from the State." The date of this 
 order was October 27, 1838. The drastic meas- 
 ure was taken because the Mormons were guilty 
 of " having made open war upon the people of 
 the State." ' 
 
 Early in the year 1839 the whole of the Mor- 
 mon community removed to Illinois. Here they 
 established themselves at Nauvoo, in Hancock 
 County, on the Mississippi Eiver. 
 
 Previous to this, Mormon missionaries had 
 gone to England. They met with great success. 
 Shiploads of converts were being sent to Amer- 
 ica and they came to Nauvoo. 
 
 Soon the erection of a great Temple began and 
 
 *" Church History," 2: 217. 
 
MOEMON HISTOEY 25 
 
 the Mormons continued to gather here in large 
 numbers. In November, 1839, was begun an- 
 other Church paper known as The Times and 
 Seaso7is. In May, 1840, the first number of The 
 Millennial Star^ another Mormon paper, ap- 
 peared. It was published in Manchester, Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Copies of all these first publications of Mor- 
 monism are yet in existence and they disclose 
 very authentically the nature and the incidents 
 of the formative period of the movement. 
 
 The Mormons were not destined to live long, 
 nor peaceably, at Nauvoo. One shocking thing 
 after another occurred. The Gentile i)opulation 
 finally arose to rid itself of these intruders. 
 /Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were 
 shot to death while awaiting trial, in jail at 
 Carthage, Illinois, June 27, 1844. 
 
 The Mormons were summarily ordered to 
 leave the State. Early in the year 1846 the 
 principal body of them left for the West under 
 the leadership of Brigham Young. They estab- 
 lished themselves in Utah, which has since been 
 the center of their location. 
 
 In 1852, a movement started amongst those 
 Mormons who had not gone westward, culminat- 
 ing in the organization of " The Eeorganized 
 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," 
 at Amboy, Illinois, April 6, 1860. 
 
 The headquarters of this division was first es- 
 
26 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 tablished at Piano, Illinois. Here was begun 
 the publication of The Saints' Herald, Later 
 the headquarters was transferred to Lamoni, 
 Iowa, where it still abides. During recent years 
 there has been a large influx of Mormon people 
 into the State of Missouri. The most of them 
 are to be found in Independence and vicinity. 
 
 The Mormons have written volumes of his- 
 tory. There is need, however, to go back to the 
 sources in order to obtain a full and correct ac- 
 count of many vital things. 
 
 It will be of interest in this connection to note 
 a few examples, wherein some remarkable facts 
 have been obscured, esx)ecially in the history 
 written and published by authority of the Eeor- 
 ganized Church. 
 
 All Mormons generally believe that their 
 Prophet, Joseph Smith, was strenuously op- 
 posed to slavery. However, on the pages of the 
 old Mormon paper. The Messenger and Advo- 
 cate, of April, 1836, may be found an article 
 contributed by him expressly advocating it. 
 
 He believed in it as representing the will of 
 Jehovah concerning the black man. 
 
 We quote from this article : 
 
 * ' If slavery is an evil, who could we expect should 
 first learn it ? Would the people of the Free States, 
 or would the Slave States ? All must readilj^ admit, 
 that the latter would first learn this fact. 
 
 . . . It is my privilege then to name certain 
 
MOEMON HISTOEY 27 
 
 passages from the Bible, and examine the teachings 
 of the Ancients upon the matter, as the fact is incon- 
 vertible, that the first mention we have of slavery, is 
 found in the Holy Bible, pronounced by a man who 
 was perfect in his generation, and walked with God. 
 
 And so far from that prediction being averse from 
 the mind of God, it remains as a lasting monument 
 to the decree of Jehovah, to the shame and confusion 
 of all who have cried out against the South, in con- 
 sequence of their holding the sons of Ham in servi- 
 tude! *And he said. Cursed be Canaan, a servant of 
 servants shall he be unto his brethren.' 'Blessed be 
 the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his 
 servant. ' 
 
 , . . The curse is not yet taken off from the 
 sons of Canaan . . . those who are determined 
 to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a 
 feverish restlessness against the designs of the Lord, 
 will learn when perhaps too late, for their own good, 
 that God can do His own work, without the aid of 
 those who are not directed by His Counsel. 
 
 . . . The Scripture stands for itself; and I be- 
 lieve that these men were better qualified to teach the 
 will of God, than all the Abolitionists in the world/' ' 
 
 In the Church history only the two closing 
 paragraphs are quoted from this article," from 
 which the fact is covered over that Smith be- 
 lieved and advocated slavery as a divine prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 ' Quoted in Millennial Star, Vol. 15, pp. 730-741. 
 ""Church History," (R), 2:58. 
 
28 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 His attitude is further set forth in the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 *' Question 13tJi. Are the Mormons abolitionists? 
 Answer: No, unless delivering the people from 
 priestcraft and the priests from the power of Satan, 
 should be considered such — but we do not believe in 
 setting the negroes free. ' ' " 
 
 These facts will be something of a revelation 
 to most of the Mormons of to-day. 
 
 Here is another statement which is omitted : 
 
 *'He (Joseph Smith) then gave a relation of some 
 of the circumstances attending us while journeying 
 to Zion (Missouri) — our trials, sufferings, etc.; and 
 said God had not designed all this for nothing, but 
 had it in remembrance yet; and those who went to 
 Zion with a determination to lay down their lives if 
 necessary, it was the will of God that they should be 
 ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the 
 vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, 
 which was nigh — even fifty-six years should wind up 
 the scene. ' ' " 
 
 The Mormons have always been careless in 
 itheir use of prophecy. According to their pro- 
 Igram the world should have come to its end ; the 
 Mormons all gathered to Zion ; the wicked des- 
 troyed long ago. The publication of such a 
 
 " The Elders' Journal, July, 1838. 
 
 ""Church History," (R), i: omitted 011 p. 540. See 
 source Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 205. 
 
MOEMON HISTORY 29 
 
 statement as the above would not likely 
 strengthen the faith of the Mormon people, 
 hence it is also omitted. 
 
 When the first volume of the history pub- 
 lished by the Eeorganized Church appeared, it 
 became clearly evident that there had been an 
 effort made to smooth over some of the unfortu- 
 nate items of Mormon history. 
 
 This is notably true with regard to the pur- 
 poses of the army which Smith led to Missouri. 
 The historian would like to make it appear that 
 they were acting purely on the defensive. 
 
 One of the old warriors that marched with 
 that army knew better. When the history of 
 this affair was written he took issue with the 
 historian. He writes as follows : 
 
 **In the first volume I think the history and com- 
 ments, concerning the Army of the Lord called to go 
 up to redeem Zion to be misleading. My understand- 
 ing is, the Saints would not send up their money to 
 purchase. The Lord wanted to see if we would fight, 
 and in this he was not mistaken, as the record shows 
 one hundred of the strength of the Lord's was the 
 limit, and enough to redeem Zion; but we got two 
 
 Note— The representatives of the Reorganized Church 
 would like to repudiate some items of history which have 
 been published by the Utah Church, in the consecutive his- 
 tory of Joseph Smith as published in the Millennial Star. 
 In the volumes of history published by the Reorganized 
 Church, very liberal use has been made of the source found 
 in the Millennial Star, hence we feel freely justified in 
 quoting from it here, 
 
30 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 hundred and over. We knew the Lord would have 
 to help us and when the Lord saw we were more 
 willing to fight than purchase, he told us we would 
 have to wait a little season for our redemption and I 
 think it was a trial of faith. Abraham was once 
 tried when he was called upon to offer his son, al- 
 though he was forbidden to shed blood as well as we 
 were; therefore his trial and ours are similar." — 
 John Hawley.'' 
 
 The following, which is directly in line of the 
 narrative, is omitted : 
 
 ^* Lyman E. Johnson ... no power of the 
 enemy shall prevent him from going forth and doing 
 the work of the Lord; and he shall live until the 
 gathering is accomplished ... he shall see the 
 saviour come and stand upon the earth with power 
 and great glory. 
 
 Brigham Young . . . the holy priesthood is 
 conferred on him, that he may do wonders in the 
 name of Jesus : that he may cast out devils, heal the 
 sick, raise the dead, open the eyes of the blind . . . 
 heathen nations shall call him God himself, if he do 
 not rebuke them. 
 
 Orson Hyde ... he shall stand on earth and 
 bring souls till Christ comes ... he shall have 
 power to smite the earth with pestilence; to divide 
 the waters, and lead through the saints. 
 
 David W. Patten . . . may he have power to 
 smite his enemies before him with utter destruction. 
 May he continue till the Lord comes. 
 
 ''Saints' Herald, Vol. 48, No. 2. 
 
MOEMON HISTOEY 31 
 
 William Smith ... he shall be preserved and 
 remain on earth until Christ shall come to take ven- 
 geance on the wicked. ' ' " 
 
 The above statements were prophetic " Bless- 
 ings " pronounced upon the heads of these men 
 in the very early days of Mormonism. They 
 have long since gone the way of all the earth. 
 The prophecies failed. Their publication would 
 be detrimental to Mormonism, hence they are 
 left out." 
 
 The conduct of the Mormons at Kirtland, 
 Ohio, and their religious practices in connection 
 with the Temple brought forth much unfavor- 
 able criticism from their Gentile neighbors. 
 
 The following is an account of a meeting con- 
 ducted by Joseph Smith : 
 
 '*I ascended the pulpit and remarked to the con- 
 gregation that we had passed through many trials 
 and afflictions since the organization of the Church 
 and that this was a year of jubilee to us and a time 
 of rejoicing ; that it was expedient for us to prepare 
 bread and wine sufficient to make our hearts glad, as 
 we should not, probably, leave this house until morn- 
 ing; to this end we should call on the brethren to 
 make a contribution. 
 
 The stewards passed around and took up a liberal 
 contribution and messengers were despatched for 
 bread and wine. Tubs, water and towels were pre- 
 
 "" Church History," (R), 1:541-542, where omitted. 
 "Millennial Star, Vol. 15, pp. 206-207, source. 
 
32 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 pared and I called the house to order, and the presi- 
 dency proceeded to wash the feet of the twelve 
 (Apostles) pronouncing many prophecies and bless- 
 ings upon them in the name of the Lord Jesus. And 
 then the twelve proceeded to wash the feet of presi- 
 dents of the several quorums. The brethren began 
 to prophesy upon each others' heads and cursings 
 upon the enemies of Christ, who inhabit Jackson 
 County, Missouri; and continued prophesying and 
 blessing and sealing them with hosanna and Amen 
 until nearly seven o 'clock p. m. " " 
 
 The Church historian smoothes this over by 
 inserting the following: 
 
 **0n the 30th official members of the Church to 
 the number of about three hundred met and attended 
 to the ordinance of feet washing, continuing all night 
 in session.''" 
 
 This shows very clearly the attitude of the 
 Mormons toward the Missourians. They re- 
 garded them as enemies of Christ. This early 
 practice of cursing enemies has led to some ex- 
 ceedingly unfortunate things in Mormon his- 
 tory. 
 
 Our contention is that the Mormons them- 
 selves are not really acquainted with the essen- 
 tial facts of their history. One reason is that 
 only a few have access to the original docu- 
 ments; another reason is, the historians have 
 
 ^'Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 727. 
 ""Church History." (R), 2:46. 
 
MORMON HISTORY 33 
 
 purposely kept many of the important things 
 from the knowledge of the people. 
 The Prophet further relates : 
 
 ** About three o'clock p. m., I dismissed the school 
 and the presidency retired to the attic story of the 
 printing office, where we attended to the ordinance 
 of washing our bodies in pure water. We also per- 
 fumed our bodies and our heads in the name of the 
 Lord.''" 
 
 The people of the Keorganized Church love 
 the hymn, "The Spirit of God like a fire is 
 burning,"" but there is one significant verse 
 omitted from the original as found in an old 
 Mormon paper. 
 
 That verse reads : 
 
 **We'll wash and be washed, and with oil be 
 
 anointed, 
 Withal not omitting the washing of feet ; 
 For he that receiveth his penny appointed, 
 Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat." ^ 
 
 Very early in the history of this cult the prac- 
 tice of ceremonies such as " washings " and 
 " anointings " entered. These were doubtless 
 intended to suggest mystic values. Later these 
 practices were specifically enjoined in a revela- 
 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 597. Same— omitted " Church 
 History," (R), 2:16. 
 ""Saints' Hymnal," (R), Hymn 355. 
 ^^ Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 256. 
 
34 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 tion." The mysterious practices of the Endow- 
 ment Houses conducted secretly by tlie Utah 
 Church seem to have had their humble begin- 
 nings in these early days. The Utah Church 
 has consistently continued these practices. The 
 Reorganized Church has, as yet, nothing corre- 
 sponding with them. 
 
 There is much in the early history of Mor- 
 monism that does not leave a favorable impres- 
 sion with those acquainted with it. 
 
 In Ohio, at Kirtland, in less than two years 
 after the building and dedication of the Temple, 
 still standing there, the Prophet Smith and his 
 colleague, Rigdon, left the town under cover of 
 the night, owing to " apostate mobocracy," " 
 that is, his own followers ran them out. About 
 one year later the Mormons were oflcially ad- 
 vised not to return there.'" In 1846, a notice 
 appeared in a secular paper advertising the 
 Temple for sale.'* 
 
 In Missouri, between the years 1833 and 1839, 
 the Mormons had a most turbulent and unsat- 
 isfactory experience. Mr. John Corrill, who 
 had been a Mormon Bishop and was afterward 
 a member of the State Legislature, had the 
 courage to separate himself from Mormonism, 
 describes the doings of the Church in Missouri 
 as follows : 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:12. 
 
 " " Church History," (R) , 2 : 136. ^Ibid.t 2 : 374. 
 
 ** The Hancock Uagle, June 26, 1846. 
 
MOEMON HISTORY SB 
 
 **I have left you not because I disbelieve the Bible, 
 for I believe in God, the Saviour, and in religion, the 
 same as ever ; but when I retrace our track and view 
 the doings of the Church for six years past, I can 
 see nothing that convinces me that God has been our 
 leader; calculation after calculation has failed and 
 plan after plan has been overthrown and our prophet 
 seemed not to know the event till too late. If he 
 said, go up and prosper, still we did not prosper ; but 
 have labored and toiled and waded through trials, 
 difficulties and temptations of various kinds in hope 
 of deliverance. But no deliverance came. The 
 promises failed and time after time we have been dis- 
 appointed; and still were commanded in the most 
 rigid manner to follow him, which the Church did, 
 until they were led into the commission of crime; 
 have been apprehended and broken down by their 
 opponents, many have been obliged to abandon their 
 country, their families and all they possessed and 
 great affliction has been brought upon the whole 
 Church. 
 
 What shall we say to these things? Did not your 
 prophet proclaim in your ears that the day was 
 your own and that you should overcome; when in 
 less than a week you were all made prisoners of war 
 and you would have been exterminated, had it not 
 been for the exertions and influence of a few dis- 
 senters and the humane and manly spirit of a certain 
 officer. But where now may you look for deliver- 
 ance? You may say, in God; but I say, in the ex- 
 ercise of common sense and that sound reason with 
 which God has endowed you; and my advice is to 
 
36 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 follow that, in preference to those pretended visions 
 and revelations which have served no better purpose 
 than to increase your trouble, and which would bind 
 you, soul and body, under the most intolerable 
 yoke.''" 
 
 The history of the Church in Illinois, from 
 the time of its coming in 1839, to the date of 
 leaving in 1846, has prejudiced the whole world 
 against Mormonism. During this period new 
 and strange doctrines were introduced, includ- 
 ing the doctrine of polygamy. Morally and po- 
 litically the situation became more and more 
 intolerable. Smith had announced himself as a 
 candidate for the Presidency of the United 
 States ; his colleague, Kigdon, was running with 
 him for Vice-President. Smith was the " Lieu- 
 tenant General of the Nauvoo Legion," the 
 Mormon Army at Nauvoo. The Dlinoians had 
 received the Mormons with open hospitality but 
 they began to see that they could not possibly 
 live in fellowship with them. 
 
 One of the leading newspapers of that section 
 had this to say : 
 
 '*If it comes to this, that Joe Smith, is to control 
 the number of votes in our county, are we not in 
 effect the subjects of a despot? Might we not as 
 well be serfs to the autocrat of Russia ? 
 
 What need have we of the elective franchise when 
 
 »^" A Brief History of the Church," by Jno. Corrill, p. 48. 
 
MORMOK HISTORY 87 
 
 a Church can rise up in our midst, controlled by the 
 magic of one to dispense political favors. Citizens 
 look to this thing! Ask yourselves what means this 
 array of military force which is paraded under di- 
 rection of this Church. 
 
 Is an army necessary to the propagation of re- 
 ligion? . . . Why these weekly parades? Why 
 all this strictness of discipline? We pause for re- 
 ply/ '^^ 
 
 While the Mormons think of the Prophet 
 praying to God; receiving the ministration of 
 Angels, etc., they should also think of him in 
 these political and militaristic relations. 
 
 The Prophet relates : 
 
 ** About two p. M. the Legion was drawn up in the 
 street close to the Mansion. I stood in full uniform 
 on the top of the frame of a building.'' " 
 
 There he made a speech to the soldiers : 
 
 *' Drawing his sword and presenting it to heaven 
 he said: I call God and Angels to witness that I 
 have unsheathed my sword with a firm and unalter- 
 able determination that this people shall have their 
 legal rights and be protected from mob violence or 
 my blood shall be spilled upon the ground like 
 water.'''' 
 
 Governor Ford was Governor of Illinois dur- 
 ing the period of the Mormon disturbances 
 
 "Editorial Warsaw Signal, (111.), June 9, 1841. 
 "Millennial Star, Vol. 24, p. 203. '^ Ibid., Vol. 24, p. 204, 
 
38 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 there. On December 17, 1844, he made a long 
 rej)ort to the State Legislature, presenting in 
 detail the events and legal aspects of the whole 
 matter. He concludes with the following : 
 
 **It was asserted that Joseph Smith, the founder 
 and head of the Mormon Church, had caused himself 
 to be crowned and anointed King of the Mormons; 
 that he had imbodied a band of his followers, called 
 Danites, who were sworn to obey him as God, and 
 to do his commands, murder and treason not ex- 
 cepted; that he had instituted an order in the 
 Church, whereby those who composed it were pre- 
 tended to be sealed up to eternal life, against all 
 crimes, save the shedding of innocent blood or con- 
 senting thereto. 
 
 That this order was instructed that no blood was 
 innocent blood, except that of the members of the 
 Church, and that these two orders were made the 
 ministers of vengeance, and the instruments of an 
 intolerable tyranny which he established over his 
 people, and which he was about to extend over the 
 neighboring country. 
 
 The people affected to believe, that with this power 
 in the hands of an unscrupulous leader, there was no 
 safety for the property or lives of any who should 
 oppose him. 
 
 It was also believed that Joseph Smith had an- 
 nounced a revelation from heaven, sanctioning polyg- 
 amy, by some kind of spiritual wife system which 
 I never could understand ; but at any rate, whereby 
 a man was allowed one wife in pursuance of the laws 
 
MOEMON HISTOEY 39 
 
 of the country, and an indefinite number of others, 
 to be enjoyed in some mystical and spiritual mode 
 and that he himself had, with many of his followers, 
 practiced upon the precepts of this revelation, by 
 seducing a large number of women. . . . Under 
 the whole, if one-half of these reports had been true, 
 the Mormon community must have been the most in- 
 tolerable collection of rogues ever assembled.'' '" 
 
 Nearly everything that had been mentioned 
 by the Governor has subsequently been con- 
 firmed in the well-known practices of the Mor- 
 mon Church. 
 
 Utah Mormonism continued the practice of 
 polygamy; the Mountain Meadow massacre is 
 an eloquent testimony of the survival of the 
 Danites ; the secret mystic rites and ceremonies 
 are common practices in Utah Mormonism ; the 
 dominating priesthood is still in evidence; its 
 interference in political matters is openly 
 charged ; its unchristian life had free range for 
 development outside the restrictions of general 
 society. 
 
 Under Joseph Smith, the Church was restless, 
 moving here and there at the dictation of his 
 revelations. Under Brigham Young, the Church 
 became settled and established ; practical genius 
 took the place of visions and revelations. With 
 the passing of Smith revelation almost ceased. 
 
 The Keorganized Church developed within the 
 
 " Ford's " History of Illinois," p. 325 ff. 
 
40 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 circles of society and shared with it the common 
 ideals. The positions assumed by this Church 
 with reference to Mormonism are, in many vital 
 instances, wholly at variance with the facts. 
 This we shall see. 
 
 The history of Mormonism, generally consid- 
 ered, is bad; and any religion that has a bad 
 history will always be handicapped in impress- 
 ing itself upon the minds of thoughtful and dis- 
 cerning persons. 
 
II 
 
 JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 
 
 MORMONISM stands united in the be- 
 lief that Joseph Smith, the founder 
 of the cult, was a Prophet of God. 
 This, indeed, is the chief corner-stone of this 
 system of religion. Every institution is, in 
 great measure, the lengthened shadow of the 
 man, or men, who have founded it. The charac- 
 ter of Mormonism as a religion cannot be fully 
 understood apart from a knowledge of the char- 
 acter of its founder. 
 
 That Joseph Smith was born and reared in 
 an atmosphere of superstition is evident from 
 the facts of his family history. His mother 
 wrote a book in which she describes some ex- 
 periences. She had dreams and her husband 
 had visions, long before their son Joseph began 
 to tell of his. About the month of March, 1811, 
 she relates : 
 
 *' About this time, my husband's mind became 
 much excited upon the subject of religion; yet he 
 would not subscribe to any particular system of 
 
 41 
 
42 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 faith, but contended for the ancient order, as estab- 
 lished by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and his 
 Apostles. ' ' ' 
 
 As a result of this he had the following 
 vision : 
 
 **I seemed to be travelling in an open barren 
 field, and as I was travelling, I turned my eyes to- 
 ward the east, west, north, and south, but could see 
 nothing save dead fallen timber. Not a vestige of 
 life, either animal or vegetable could be seen ; besides 
 to render the scene still more dreary, the most death- 
 like silence prevailed; no sound of anything could 
 be heard in all the field. I was alone in this gloomy 
 desert, with the exception of an attendant spirit, 
 who kept constantly by my side. Of him I enquired 
 the meaning of what I saw, and why I was thus 
 travelling in such a dismal place. 
 
 He answered thus: 'This field is the world which 
 now lieth inanimate and dumb in regard to the true 
 religion or plan of salvation; but, travel on and by 
 the wayside, you will find on a certain log, a box, the 
 contents which, if you will eat thereof will make 
 you wise and give you wisdom and understanding. ' 
 
 I carefully observed what was told me by my 
 guide, and proceeding a short distance came to the 
 box. I immediately took it up and placed it under 
 my left arm; then with eagerness I raised the lid 
 and began to taste of its contents, upon which, all 
 manner of beasts, horned cattle and roaring animals, 
 
 '"J. Smith the Prophet and His Progenitors," (R), 
 chap. 14. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 43 
 
 rose up on every side in the most threatening manner 
 possible; tearing the earth, tossing their horns and 
 bellowing most terrifically all around me, and finally 
 came so close upon me, that I was compelled to drop 
 the box and fly for my life. Yet in the midst of all 
 this, I was perfectly happy, though I awoke trem- 
 bling. "—Zft^^Z., pp. 59-60. 
 
 The interpretation put upon this " vision " 
 reveals the dominant idea struggling for expres- 
 sion. Mrs. Smith adds : 
 
 **From this forward, my husband seemed more 
 confirmed than ever in the opinion: that there was 
 no order or class of religionists, that knew any more 
 concerning the Kingdom of God, than those of the 
 world, or such as made no profession of religion 
 whatever.'' ' 
 
 Thus it may be seen that the parents of Smith 
 were imbued with the principal conceptions 
 which their son Joseph claimed God revealed to 
 Mm in 1820. These conceptions were : that the 
 true order of religion was not upon earth ; that 
 all the Churches were wrong ; that all professors 
 of religion were corrupt. With these thoughts 
 in his mind, young Smith went into the woods 
 to pray. He tells how, when he began to pray 
 that he was seized with some power which en- 
 tirely overcame him; that he was rendered 
 
 *"J. Smith the Prophet and His Progenitors," (R), 
 chap. 14. 
 
44 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 speechless; darkness gathered around him and 
 he thought he was doomed to destruction. Just 
 at that time a light appeared and two person- 
 ages addressed him, calling him by name. One 
 of them said, "This is my beloved Son, hear 
 Him." He said that the object of his prayer 
 was to know " which of all the sects is right." 
 One of these personages told him : 
 
 *'I was answered that I must join none of them, 
 for they were all wrong; and the personage who ad- 
 dressed me said that all their creeds were an abom- 
 ination in His sight; that those professors were all 
 corrupt; that 'they draw near me with their lips, 
 but their hearts are far from me; they teach for 
 doctrines the commandments of men, having a form 
 of godliness, but they deny the power thereof ! ' He 
 again forbade me to join with any of them; and 
 many other things did he say unto me, which I can- 
 not write at this time. 
 
 When I came to myself again, I found myself ly- 
 ing on my back, looking up into heaven.'" 
 
 This story, as here related, was not told by 
 Smith until several years after Mormonism was 
 well under way. In order to make room for a 
 new religion all old forms must be condemned. 
 Mormonism has often been referred to as being 
 Mohammedan in character.* It is exactly like it 
 
 •"Church History," (R), 1:9. 
 
 * " Brigham Young and the Mormon Empire," p. 9, also 
 " Mormonism the Islam of America." (Title of Book.) 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 45 
 
 in its sweeping denunciation of all other forms 
 of faith. Here is what Joseph Smith says : 
 
 ''Is it any wonder then, that we say of the priests 
 of modern days, that they are of Satan's own mak- 
 ing, and are of their father the Devil? Nay, verily 
 Nay; for no being but a scandalous sycophant, and 
 base hypocrite, would say otherways . . . We 
 shall see all the priests who adhere to the sectarian 
 religions of the day, with all their followers with- 
 out one exception, receive their portion with the 
 Devil and his angels.''* 
 
 Where in Mohammedan lore can be found 
 anything more condemnatory than these words? 
 Again, he says : 
 
 ** Respecting the Melchisedec Priesthood, the sec- 
 tarian world never professed to have it, consequently 
 they never could save any one and would all be 
 damned together. The sectarian world are going to 
 hell by hundreds, by thousands and by millions. ' ' * 
 
 Another incident from the narratives which 
 the Prophet^s mother records illustrates her su- 
 perstition. After Smith had told his neighbors 
 about the Golden Plates he had received, from 
 which he claimed to have translated the " Book 
 of Mormon," many were very anxious to see 
 them. Mr. Martin Harris, a New York farmer. 
 
 ' Elders* Journal, pp. 59-60, August, 1838. 
 ^Millennial Star, Vol. 22, p. 54. 
 
46 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 wliom. Smith had succeeded in interesting in the 
 scheme, had sold his farm to obtain money to 
 use in printing the book. His wife was very 
 much opposed to the transaction and deter- 
 mined to see the Gold Plates if possible. She 
 went to the Smith home for the purpose of find- 
 ing them. Mrs. Smith says of this incident : 
 
 *' After a tedious search, she at length came to 
 a spot where she judged from the appearance of 
 things they must be buried; but upon stoopmg down 
 to scrape away the snow and leaves, in order to 
 ascertain the fact, she encountered a horrible black 
 snake, which gave her a terrible fright, and she ran 
 with all possible speed to the house.'" 
 
 It would be very unusual to find a snake in 
 the season of the year when snow is upon the 
 ground. Mother Smith could believe this, how- 
 ever, and also that God was using that snake to 
 protect the precious Golden Plates. 
 
 The history of religion has been strangely en- 
 cumbered with many outbreaks of fanaticism. 
 Since the dawn of Christianity sects have multi- 
 plied almost without number. Mormonism, 
 claiming itself to be the one and only true relig- 
 ion, broke up into no less than fifteen sects or 
 parties within the first twenty years after it 
 took organized form.* 
 
 ^" J. Smith and His Progenitors," (R), chap. 24. 
 • " Evidence Temple Lot Case," pp. 84-85. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JE. 47 
 
 Men have repeatedly followed strong delu- 
 sions. The history of witchcraft and belief in 
 devils forms a very sad chapter in the record of 
 the world^s events. We will be able to interpret 
 the character of Joseph Smith, and understand 
 his religion all the better if we make an exami- 
 nation of related phenomena. Montanism, for 
 example, which became a powerful movement in 
 the second century of Christianity, resulted di- 
 rectly from the claims of Montanus." 
 
 He fell into passive ecstasy, claimed to be in- 
 spired, prophesied the near coming of the Lord, 
 advocated stern morality, tried to gather his 
 followers into a holy colony and demanded un- 
 equivocal recognition of himself as a Prophet. 
 
 Montanism sought to restore to the Church 
 the charismatic life and arouse the conscious- 
 ness of inspiration in individual Christians. It 
 placed itself in opposition to the trend of the 
 Church in many particulars. As the movement 
 grew it became less inspirational and more for- 
 mal and Pharisaic in character. 
 
 In our own times we have further illustra- 
 tions of fanaticism in "The Holy Ghost and 
 Us '' movement led by Mr. F. W. Sanford in 
 Maine, and " Dowieism," led by the late John 
 A. Dowie, of Chicago. 
 
 Compare these statements respecting Mon- 
 tanism with the claims of Mormonism and note 
 
 •Neander, "Church History," 1:508-527. 
 
48 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 their striking similarity. Smith began with a 
 spiritual experience. He made bold claims to 
 inspiration. He played most effectually upon 
 the belief of the people in the visible coming of 
 the Lord. He advocated a rigid morality, even 
 forbidding one to use tea or coffee." He tried 
 repeatedly to gather his followers into a holy 
 colony ; and to deny his claim as a Prophet was 
 the chiefest sin in the catalogue of apostasy. 
 Smith aroused his followers to seek after spir- 
 itual gifts and depend upon inspiration in the 
 solution of the commonest things of life. Mor- 
 monism stood aloof from the Church and passed 
 its condemnation upon it. As it grew, its reve- 
 lations diminished and its greatest success came 
 when it depended less upon " the inner light '' 
 and more upon hard work and common sense. 
 
 We have other very noted examples in later 
 history. In the sixteenth century we have the 
 rise of the Zwickau Prophets. They made great 
 claims for their inspiration and aroused great 
 anxiety on the part of Luther and Melanchthon. 
 They threatened to become a serious hindrance 
 to the Keformation. Many strong men were 
 deeply impressed with their bold claims." These 
 Prophets denounced the Church ; taught the in- 
 validity of infant baptism ; they said the Church 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants/* (U), 89:9. So interpreted. 
 ""The Reformation in Germany," by Vedder, pp. 185. 
 190. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JB. 49 
 
 was under the control of corrupt men; they 
 boasted the gift of foreknowledge and of judg- 
 ing secret things ; they had revelations, dreams 
 and visions. No one was to give himself to 
 study of art or literature — the people were to 
 depend on revelation from God. 
 
 All these affirmations were directly repro- 
 duced in the history of Mormonism. 
 
 A little later we have the rise of Melchior 
 Hofmann, who was much moved with the idea 
 of the near approach of the last Day." He an- 
 nounced that Strasburg was to be the New 
 Jerusalem of the coming age and that the year 
 1G35 was to be the time of its consummation. 
 He was succeeded by Jan Matthys, who trans- 
 ferred the seat of the New Jerusalem to Miln- 
 ster. Here, community of goods was established 
 among the many followers who gathered about 
 him. The receiving of revelations was a com- 
 mon occurrence. Being obedient to a heavenly 
 vision, Matthys made a sortie against besiegers 
 of the city and met his death. 
 
 He was succeeded by John Bockhold, of Ley- 
 den, who claimed that he was appointed of God 
 to the leadership of the flock. He proclaimed 
 that the Kingdom of David was to be reestab- 
 lished at Mtinster, the new Mount Zion, and 
 that he was King David. He soon began to ad- 
 
 " " The Reformation in Germany," by Vedder, p. 346. 
 
60 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 vocate the practice of polygamy." Dissensions 
 broke out among his followers. A military force 
 overpowered the city and the movement came to 
 a sad and speedy end. 
 
 The slightest acquaintance with Mormonism 
 will reveal to one how the above events of his- 
 tory have been repeated in its development. 
 Mormonism has no claim to a unique distinction 
 as a religious movement. It is an example of 
 history repeating itself. 
 
 Joseph Smith had the boldness to make ex- 
 traordinary claims for himself. By his revela- 
 tion the Church was commanded : " Thou shalt 
 give heed unto all his words and command- 
 ments, ... for his word ye shall receive, 
 as if from mine own mouth." " 
 
 He was to be, " A ruler in my Kingdom." " 
 God had said to Abraham, " So I say unto my 
 servant Joseph, in thee and in thy seed, shall the 
 kindred of the earth be blessed." " He claimed 
 to be, 
 
 " A Prophet." " 
 
 "A Seer."" 
 
 "A Eevelator."" 
 
 "A Translator."'" 
 
 " Apostle of Jesus Christ." " 
 
 ""The Reformation in Germany," by Vedder, p. 348. 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 19:2. 
 '' Ibid., 98 : 8. " Ibid., 107 : 18. " Ibid., 19 : i. 
 
 '' Ibid., 19 : 1. " Ibid., 107 : 29. '" Ibid., 19 : i. 
 
 ''Ibid., 17:1. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 51 
 
 " High Priest." " 
 
 " Baurak Ale." " A fictitious name whicli lie 
 applied to himself. In addition to the above he 
 was "President of the Church";'* he was or- 
 dained a Kingf was trustee in trust for the 
 Church f Treasurer of the Kirtland Safety 
 Society Bank ;" Grand Chaplain Masonic Lodge 
 at Nauvoo f Lieutenant General of the Nauvoo 
 Legion f Judge of the Municipal Court of Nau- 
 voo, Mayor and Kegistrar of Deeds f and, to cap 
 it all, at the time of his death was in the field as 
 a candidate for the Presidency of the United 
 States.'' 
 
 We will here introduce some of his prophe- 
 cies: 
 
 **I prophesied by virtue of the holy priesthood 
 vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition, 
 they shall be broken up as a government, and God 
 shall damn, and there shall nothing be left of them 
 — not even a grease spot.'' "* 
 
 Here is another : 
 
 '""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 104:11. 
 
 ^ Ibid., 100 : 5. 
 
 ^'Millennial Star, Vol. 18, p. 535- 
 
 ^'Ihe Saints' herald, (R), Vol. 51, No. 4. 
 
 ^'^Nauvoo Neighbor, December 27, 1843. 
 
 ''' Journal of History, Vol. 2, No. 4. 
 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 19, p. 152. 
 
 ''Ibid., Vol. 19. p. 135. 'U^u/., Vol. 19: 135. 
 
 ^ Nanvoo Neighbor, June 26, 1844, 
 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 22, p. 455? 
 
52 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 *'I prophesied that I would stand and shine like 
 the Sun, in the firmament, when my enemies and 
 the gain sayers of my testimony shall be put down 
 and cut off, and their names blotted out from among 
 men/'" 
 
 A short time after uttering this lie was shot 
 to death in Carthage Jail, Carthage, Illinois. 
 Upon another occasion he said : 
 
 (( 
 
 1 was once praying very earnestly to know the 
 time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard 
 a voice repeat the following: * Joseph, my son, if 
 thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou 
 shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let 
 this suffice and trouble me no more on this mat- 
 ter.''" 
 
 Here is a statement which illustrates the ex- 
 tent of his learning, his two vocabularies being 
 the Scripture and the American vernacular : 
 
 *'God made Aaron to be the mouth piece for the 
 children of Israel, and he will make me be God to 
 you in his stead, and the elders to be mouth for me ; 
 and if you don't like it, you must lump it."^ 
 
 What a wonder that the people endured as 
 long as they did such arrogance ! Here is the 
 way he sent one of his Elders out on a mission ; 
 
 " Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, p. 992, 
 '* Millennial Star, Vol. 20, p. 728. 
 » Ibid., Vol. 23, p. 280. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JE. 63 
 
 **I also decided that Elder John Snider, should 
 go out on a mission . . . if he will not he shall 
 be cut off from the Church and be damned."" 
 
 There were times when revelations came to 
 Smith very rarely. The environment had much 
 to do with it, apparently. At other times they 
 came under the pressure of the moment. At the 
 time he was being elected Mayor of Nauvoo, he 
 received and wrote one very suddenly : 
 
 ''May 19, 1842: Verily thus saith the Lord unto 
 my servant Joseph, by the voice of my spirit, Hiram 
 Kimball has been insinuating evil, and forming evil 
 opinions against you, with others ; and if he continue 
 in them, he and they shall be accursed, for I am the 
 Lord thy God, and will stand by thee and bless thee. 
 Amen, — which I threw across the room to Hiram 
 Kimball one of the Councillors.'"" 
 
 Smith did not hesitate to hurl his invectives 
 against any who happened to incur his enmity. 
 
 ''Cursed are all those who shall lift up the heel 
 against mine anointed, saith the Lord, and cry, 
 they have sinned, when they have not sinned before 
 me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was 
 meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded 
 them.''"' 
 
 Again : 
 
 "I will wage an eternal warfare with those that 
 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 19, p. 39. 
 
 '^Ibid., Vol. 19, p. 438. ""Ibid., Vol. 17, p. 54. 
 
V 
 
 54 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 oppose me while I am laboring in behalf of the City. 
 I will disgrace every man by publishing him on the 
 house top, who will not be still and mind his own 
 business. ''** 
 
 Again : 
 
 *'No! God forbid. Hell may pour forth its rage 
 like the burning lava of Mt. Vesuvius or of Etna, 
 or of the most terrible of the burning mountains, 
 and yet shall Mormonism stand. Water, fire, truth 
 and God are all the same. Truth is Mormonism. 
 God is the author of it." '" 
 
 In the beginning Mormonism was a very sim- 
 ple affair, but as time went on the expectancy of 
 the people was continuously raised by the intro- 
 duction of something new. Smith said: 
 
 ''God revealed to me that something new must 
 be done for the salvation of his Church.'/ " 
 
 By a careful examination of the history of 
 this man one will find, that in great measure, 
 the opposition and persecution which he brought 
 upon himself was waged against him by those 
 who had been his followers. He left Kirtland, 
 Ohio, under cover of the night to escape the 
 wrath of those who had walked with him. The 
 fury of the people in Missouri was moved to 
 unrestrained action when the facts of Smith's 
 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 23, p. 23. 
 
 *'Ibid., Vol. 17, p. 56. *'Ibid., Vol. 16, p. II. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JR~ 55 
 
 iniquities were made known by his own disci- 
 ples. The troubles he encountered at Kauvoo, in 
 the years i)receding his death, were largely con- 
 fined to the disaffection of his people and his 
 death was precipitated by the declaration of his 
 iniquities by those who stood high in o£S.cial 
 circles in Mormonism. 
 
 One very small sect of Mormonism, known as 
 the " Hedrickites " — located at Independence, 
 Missouri, accepts the claims of Joseph Smith 
 and all that was embraced within the system of 
 religion he founded until the year 1835." From 
 that time they regarded Smith as a "Fallen 
 Prophet." His life and character being such as 
 to rebuke confidence and trust in it. 
 
 His followers began to speak of him as a 
 " Fallen Prophet.'^ Note the following : 
 
 ** Simon Carter said as to his faith in the work, 
 it was the same as ever ; he did not think that Joseph 
 was a fallen Prophet . . . Solomon Hancock 
 says he is a firm believer . . . that Brother 
 Joseph is not a fallen Prophet, but will yet be ex- 
 alted and become very high. ' ' '' 
 
 His people were continuously under the strain 
 of maintaining their faith, while their eyes saw 
 and their ears heard so much from this man that 
 
 *'"The Story of the Mormons," by Linn, p. 183. There 
 have been several small factions of dissenting Mormons 
 who have entertained this same conception. 
 
 *^ Millennial Star, Vol. 16, p. 602. 
 
56 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 shocked and bewildered them. Just a short 
 time preceding his assassination several of his 
 leading followers banded together to form a new 
 Church. The following is an extract from a 
 letter written by the "Twelve Apostles" to 
 England, May 3, 1844: 
 
 '* William and Wilson Law, R. D. Foster, C. L. 
 and F. Higbee, Father Cowles, etc., have organized 
 a new Church . . . 'Tis the same old story over 
 again — * The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen 
 Prophet/''" 
 
 The publication of The Nauvoo Expositor, in 
 which the iniquities of this man were set forth 
 in striking form, on June 7, 1844, was an event 
 of such great importance as to threaten the 
 future existence of Mormonism. The nature of 
 the charges against Smith may be seen by the 
 following extract taken from an editorial which 
 appeared in the Warsaw Signal, May 15, 1844 : 
 
 **The new Church appears to be going ahead. On 
 last Sunday, there were about three hundred as- 
 sembled at Mr. Law's house in Nauvoo and listened 
 with much seeming pleasure, to a sermon from Elder 
 Blakely who denounced Smith as a fallen Prophet. 
 He treated the spiritual wife doctrine without gloves 
 and repudiated Smith's plan of uniting Church and 
 State."" 
 
 ** Millennial Star, Vol. 2, p. 422. 
 
 *° The files of this paper arc in New York Public I^ibrary. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 57 
 
 One element in the character of Smith stands 
 out very prominently, namely, his use of mys- 
 tery. He based his fundamental claims upon 
 the idea of a restoration of all things which had 
 formed a part of the religious life of the people 
 of Bible times. 
 
 Concerning a social event described in his 
 history we read : 
 
 **We then partook of some refreshment and our 
 hearts were made glad with the fruit of the vine. 
 This is according to the pattern set by the Saviour 
 himself, and we feel disposed to patronize all the 
 institutions of heaven."''^ 
 
 His own revelations forbade the drinking of 
 wine, but he drank it too, on occasions other 
 than at wedding feasts. 
 
 **I took my Mother and Aunt Clarissa in a car- 
 riage and accompanied them to Painsville, where we 
 procured a bottle of wine, broke bread, ate and 
 drank and parted after the ancient order with the 
 blessings of God."" 
 
 Under the profession of being true to the 
 teaching of the Scripture and the restoration 
 idea, he introduced one new thing after another. 
 At Nauvoo, Hlinois, he commanded the people 
 to build a Temple, the purpose of which is thus 
 described : 
 
 *" Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 583. 
 " Ibid., Vol. 15, p. 744. 
 
68 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 '*Let this house be built unto my name, that I 
 may reveal mine ordinances therein, unto my peo- 
 ple; for I deign to reveal unto my Church things 
 which have been kept hid from before the founda- 
 tion of the world; things which pertain unto the 
 dispensation of the fullness of times; and I will 
 show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining 
 to this house and the priesthood thereof/'** 
 
 In the same connection he further says : 
 
 ^'How shall your washings be acceptable unto me, 
 except ye perform them in a house which you have 
 built unto my name . . . that those ordinances 
 might be revealed which had been hid from before 
 the world was; 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, etc., 
 etc."" 
 
 The Mormons were unable to carry out in full 
 detail the secret rites and ceremonies that had 
 thus been outlined for the Temple at Nauvoo. 
 In Utah and vicinity they have erected several 
 temples, also one in Canada and one in Hawaii, 
 and their mystic rites and endowment cere- 
 monies have become a distinguishing feature of 
 their faith. 
 
 *'" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:13. 
 ** Ibid., 107 : 12. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JE. 59 
 
 Assuming the role of a poet, Smitli wrote a 
 very lengthy poem, a verse or two of which we 
 here insert in this connection : 
 
 ^'Froin the Council in Kolob, '° to time on the earth; 
 And for ages to come mito them will I show, 
 My pleasure and will what my Kingdoms will do — 
 Eternity's wonders they truly shall know. 
 
 ''But the great things of God which he showed unto 
 me, 
 Unlawful to utter, I dare not declare; 
 They surpass all the wisdom and greatness of men, 
 And only are seen, as has Paul, where they are. 
 
 **I, Joseph the Prophet in spirit beheld, 
 And the eyes of the inner man truly did see; 
 Eternity sketched in a vision from God, 
 Of what was, and now is, and yet is to be.''" 
 
 It was under the disguise of mystery that 
 polygamy was introduced. As soon as the world 
 heard about it the Elders were warned to let the 
 mysteries alone. Doubtless, polygamy was one 
 of the secrets which Smith had declared, in the 
 above poem, were unlawful to utter, nor did he 
 dare declare it in public. 
 
 That he did declare it in secret to Ms follow- 
 ers is a well-established fact. 
 
 For a human being to assmne all that is im- 
 plied in these authentic quotations is a wonder 
 
 «*' Referred to in " The Book of Abraham." 
 "* Times and Seasons, February i, 1843. 
 
60 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 in itself. But the greater wonder, that he 
 should be able to influence so many people to 
 believe in himself and the immoral, unchristian 
 practices which he instituted, stands before us 
 as a problem. 
 
 When his followers accepted him as a prophet 
 and a revealer of God's will, for many of them 
 the only logical thing to do was to accept with- 
 out question his revelations as given. 
 
 Shakespeare says, in the words of Bassanio : 
 
 * ' In religion, 
 What damned error but some sober brow 
 Will bless it, and approve it with a text, 
 Hiding the grossness with fair ornament.''" 
 
 ]^o Mormon ever concedes that proof of 
 Smith's personal failings affects his character 
 as a prophet. Jesus said: " Ye shall know them 
 by their fruits," '" and it would seem strange, in 
 view of such a test, that any rational person 
 could accept Joseph Smith as the mouthpiece of 
 the Almighty. 
 
 A study of the character of his early followers 
 shows that they were in a high state of suscepti- 
 bility. The ancient Athenians are not alone in 
 their desire to tell and hear new things." Joseph 
 Smith was able to play upon the desire of the 
 people for something new and definite. Against 
 
 " " Merchant of Venice," Act III, scene 2. 
 
 " Matt. 7 : i6. " Acts 17 : 21. 
 
JOSEPH SMITH, JB. 61 
 
 the tendency of mankind to seek after some new- 
 found way of life and duty, Jesus issues His 
 warning, " Beware of false prophets." " 
 
 Phrenologists, spiritualists, mesmerists and 
 psychologists have variously attempted to inter- 
 pret his more or less abnormal performances. 
 Was he deceived by his own pretensions? Are 
 we dealing with an insane man? The world 
 may ever wonder and never be able to fully sat- 
 isfy all inquiry concerning him. The same is 
 also true of Mohammed and other men who pos- 
 sessed great power over their fellow-men. 
 
 It was and is the recognition of the authority 
 which he claimed for himself, on the part of his 
 followers, that served to bind the people to- 
 gether under his tyrannical yoke. 
 
 What the Mormons and all others need to rec- 
 ognize is this : Jesus Christ is the one and only 
 Mediator between God and man. That every 
 soul may have direct access to God by Him. 
 That no man or Avoman, no matter what they 
 claim, should be permitted to come between the 
 Disciple and his Lord and Master. 
 
 Any person presuming so to do should be re- 
 pudiated forthwith. If this Scriptural direc- 
 tion had been observed the false prophets of all 
 time would have found it most difdcult to obtain 
 a following. 
 
 '"'Matt. 7:15. 
 
m 
 
 "THE BOOK OF MOEMON" 
 
 LIKE Mohammedanism, Mormonism has 
 also produced its sacred books. Chief 
 of all these books which the Mormons 
 regard as sacred and inspired, is the " Book of 
 Mormon." 
 
 This book was first printed in March, 1830. 
 An estimate of its importance is given by its 
 author, Joseph Smith, in the following words : 
 
 **I told the brethren that the 'Book of Mormon' 
 was the most correct of any book on earth, and the 
 keystone of our religion; and a man would get 
 nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by 
 any other book. " * 
 
 Smith's story concerning the origin of this 
 book may be briefly stated as follows. He re- 
 lates that on the night of September 21, 1823, 
 while praying in his room, he was visited by an 
 angel who told him that there was a book de- 
 posited, written upon Golden Plates, giving an 
 account of the former inhabitants of this con- 
 
 * Millennial Star, Vol. i8, p. 790. 
 62 
 
<^THE BOOK OF MOEMON'' 63 
 
 tinent and tlie source from which, they sprang. 
 He said also that it contained the fullness of the 
 everlasting gospel as preached by Jesus to the 
 people on this continent. With the plates, he 
 was told, were two stones in silver bows known 
 as the Urini and Thummim, the use of which 
 had constituted men as seers in ancient times, 
 and these stones God had prepared for the 
 translation of the book.' 
 
 iNear Manchester, Ontario County, New 
 York, there is a hill of considerable size, known 
 as "Mormon Hill." Smith claimed that the 
 angel told him that he would find the plates on 
 the west side, not far from the top, under a large 
 stone, deposited in a stone box. When he went 
 there he found them; but again the angel sud- 
 denly appeared and forbade him to take them ; 
 he was to visit the place every year at the same 
 time for four years, then the plates would be 
 delivered unto him. 
 
 On September 27, 1827, he claimed the an- 
 gelic messenger gave the plates and all that per- 
 tained to them into his hands. In the period 
 intervening between the time of receiving the 
 plates and the publication. Smith was engaged 
 in translating them into the English language. 
 He claimed the inscriptions on the plates were 
 written in the " Reformed Egyptian.'^ He knew 
 nothing whatever about ancient languages but 
 
 * " The Story of the Mormons," by IJnn, p. 31. 
 
64 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 claimed that God gave him inspiration to know 
 the contents of the plates by means of the stone 
 referred to. 
 Whj have so many people believed in this 
 
 ^ book? The Mormons boldly claim that it has 
 come forth in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. 
 Among the references used in this connection by 
 the Mormon Elder are the thirty-seventh chap- 
 ter of Ezekiel and the eighteenth and twenty- 
 ninth chapters of Isaiah. 
 
 The common people, being used to the idea of 
 
 ^ accepting statements uncritically, made on the 
 
 * basis of the proof text method, and knowing 
 little or nothing of the historical conditions 
 under which the Biblical prophecies were ut- 
 tered, are thereby deceived in their belief that 
 these and other prophecies refer to the " Book 
 of Mormon." 
 
 Another reason is that the Aborigines of 
 
 * America have never been satisfactorily ac- 
 counted for ; hence the claim of the " Book of 
 Mormon " to be a revelation of the secret of the 
 origin and history of the people from whom the 
 Indians came, is of great interest to many 
 people. 
 
 Another thing of interest : It was the habit of 
 Smith, as may be seen all through his history, to 
 
 * secure certificates in proof of any point he con- 
 sidered vital. Accompanying every edition of 
 the book there may be found the certified testi- 
 
"THE BOOK OF MOEMON»> 65 
 
 mony of the " Three Witnesses " and the " Eight 
 Witnesses/' 
 
 How could three rational men address " all 
 nations, kindreds, tongues and people,'' and say 
 that God had told them, that these plates had 
 been "translated by the gift and power of 
 God " ; and that " an angel of God came down 
 from heaven and he brought and laid before our 
 eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates and the 
 engravings thereon ; and we know that it is by 
 the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, that we beheld and bear record that 
 these things are true "? ^ Less interest is shown 
 in the testimony of the eight witnesses. In 
 effect, their testimony is, " that the said Smith 
 has got the plates of which we have spoken." 
 
 That these testimonies have had and do have 
 great weight with many people is indisputable. 
 Since appeal is made to the Bible, the Mormon 
 may reason thus : If God answered by means of 
 the Urim and Thummim,* in ancient times, why 
 not to-day? If God could send an angel to His 
 servant Paul, tempest tossed in the fury of a 
 gale at sea," why should it be thought a thing in- 
 credible that He should send one to His servant 
 Joseph? 
 
 Before we proceed farther we wish to note 
 
 ^ " The Story of the Mormons," by Linn, pp. 78-79- 
 *i Sam. 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65; Ex. 28:30. 
 ^ Acts 27 : 23. 
 
 y 
 
66 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 some facts appearing in the early history of the 
 Mormons, as touching the incidents and events 
 in connection with the translation of the " Book 
 of Mormon." Shortly after Smith's first an- 
 nouncement that he had been visited by an angel 
 his mother has this to say of him : 
 
 *' During our evening conversations, Joseph would 
 occasionally give us some of the most amusing re- 
 citals that could be imagined. 
 
 He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this 
 continent, their dress, mode of travelling, and the 
 animals upon which they rode, their cities, their 
 ibuildings, with every particular; their mode of 
 warfare, and also their religious worship. This he 
 would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had 
 spent his whole life with them." ° 
 
 Is it not strange that Smith should know all 
 this long before he began the translation of the 
 plates, which he claimed contained the revela- 
 tion? How could he tell these stories men- 
 tioned by his mother? It is a well-know^n fact 
 that persons of low mentality may have phe- 
 nomenal memories and unusual power of vivid 
 imagination. In his method of translation of 
 the plates, as related by his wife, who wrote out 
 his dictation in part, she says : 
 
 \ **I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting 
 
 close to the table by him, he sitting with his face 
 
 ""Biographical Sketches," by Lticy Smith, (R), p. 92. 
 
^^THE BOOK OF MOBMON^^ 67 
 
 buried in his hat, with the stone in it and dictating 
 hour after hour with nothing between us . . . 
 
 Joseph Smith could neither write nor dictate a 
 coherent and well worded letter; let alone dictating 
 a book like the 'Book of Mormon' ... I did 
 not attempt to handle the plates, other than I have 
 told you, nor uncover them to look at them. I was 
 satisfied it was the work of God and therefore did 
 not feel it to be necessary to do so. " ' 
 
 A very unsuspecting, trustful wife indeed! 
 Most people would have been curious to see 
 those wonderful plates. How could he translate 
 from the plates of gold with his sight obstructed, 
 his face buried in a hat? If he did not need to 
 see the plates while translating them, why were 
 they given him for that purpose? Why use one 
 stone when two were given for this work? Who 
 is correct? — his mother, who says Joseph could 
 give a whole recital with ease, or his wife, who ^ 
 says he could not dictate a coherent letter? J 
 
 In the early history of Mormonism, it is of 
 vital interest to note that there were rival stones 
 and rival revelations coming from them. Hiram 
 Page, one of the eight witnesses referred to, 
 tried his hand at the business. Joseph Smith 
 says of this : 
 
 ** Brother Hiram Page had got in his possession a 
 certain stone, by which he had obtained certain reve- 
 lations, concerning the upbuilding of Zion, the order 
 '"Qh.u^h History." (R), 3:356-357. 
 
68 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 of the Church, etc., etc., all of which were at vari- 
 ance with the order of God's house as laid down in 
 the New Testament as well as in our late revelations. 
 Finding that many, especially the Whitmer fam- 
 ily and Oliver Cowdery (two of the three witnesses 
 referred to) were believing much in the thing set 
 forth by this stone, we thought best to enquire of 
 the Lord concerning so important a matter."^ 
 
 David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin 
 Harris were the men who gave the certificate, 
 saying that an angel showed them the Gold 
 Plates. Here we find Whitmer and Cowdery 
 giving credit to revelations coming from a dif- 
 ferent source. Joseph soon got a revelation 
 which told him : 
 
 '^Thou shalt take thy brother Hiram Page, be- 
 tween him and thee alone, and tell him that those 
 things which he hath written from that stone are 
 not of me, and Satan deceiveth him."* 
 
 And notwithstanding the Mormons claim a 
 complete restoration of primitive Christianity, 
 with the charismatic gifts and spontaneous reve- 
 lations, Smith claimed the sole right to receive 
 all such for the Church. By revelation he says : 
 
 **No one shall be appointed to receive revelations 
 in this Church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, 
 Jr., for he receiveth them even as Moses; and thou 
 
 «" Church History," (R), i:ii8. 
 ^"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), p. 64. 
 
**THE BOOK OF MOEMON»» 69 
 
 shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give 
 unto him."" 
 
 The Prophet's mother, speaking of events 
 about the same time, says : 
 
 ''A certain young woman who was living at David 
 \Yhitmer's, uttered a prophecy, which she said was 
 given her by looking through a black stone that she 
 had found . . . that David Whitmer or Martin 
 Harris would fill Joseph's place.''" 
 
 As a result of these revelations — the effect 
 they had upon the Mormons about Kirtland, she 
 says : 
 
 "They circulated a paper in order to ascertain 
 how many would follow them and it was found that 
 a great proportion of the Church were decidedly in 
 favor of the new party.'' " 
 
 These statements show how susceptible "were 
 the Mormon peo^jle in their willingness to re- 
 ceive these pretended revelations. David Whit- 
 mer tells us of other use made of the stone than 
 that of translation : 
 
 ''Brother Hyrum (Smith) said it had been sug- 
 gested to him that some of the brethren might go 
 to Toronto, Canada, and sell the copyright of the 
 'Book of Mormon' for considerable money, and 
 he persuaded Joseph to enquire of the Lord about 
 it. Joseph concluded to do so. 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), p. 63. 
 
 "History by lyucy Smith, (R), p. 222. ^- Ibid., p. 223. 
 
70 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 He had not yet given up the stone. Joseph looked 
 into the hat, in which he placed the stone and re- 
 ceived a revelation that some of the brethren should 
 go to Toronto, Canada, and that they would sell the 
 copyright of the *Book of Mormon.' 
 
 Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery went to Toronto, 
 on this mission, but they failed entirely to sell the 
 copyright, returning without any money . . . 
 
 Joseph did not know how it was, so he enquired 
 of the Lord about it, and Behold ! the following rev- 
 elation came through the stone, 'Some revelations 
 are of God; some revelations are of man and some 
 revelations are of the devil. ' ' ' ^ 
 
 Some time later the three witnesses were ex- 
 pelled from the Mormon Church. Soon after- 
 ward Cowdery wrote a " Defense/^ in which he 
 says: 
 
 ''Brother Page and I did not think that God 
 would have deceived us through Urim and Thum- 
 mim, exactly as came the 'Book of Mormon'; and I 
 well remember how hard I strove to drive away the 
 foreboding that seized me, that the First Elder 
 (Joseph Smith) had made tools of us, where we 
 thought in the simplicity of our hearts that we were 
 divinely commissioned."" 
 
 From the standpoint of the Mormons, the 
 " Book of Mormon " is presented with its claims 
 
 "Whitmer's Address, pp. 30-31. 
 
 "O. Cowdery's "Defense and Renunciation," p. 5 
 (pamphlet). 
 
**THE BOOK OF MOEMON^' 71 
 
 for acceptance, first, as a divinely translated 
 book ; second, as a book whose source was given 
 by angelic ministration, as witnessed by three 
 men: David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and 
 Martin Harris. 
 
 Having given some attention to the claim of 
 translation, we will now consider additional 
 light with reference to the witnesses. Smith 
 tells us that in the course of translation he came 
 to a part which told him that three witnesses 
 would be chosen to bear record of the same. 
 Almost immediately thereafter he tells us the 
 above-mentioned persons : 
 
 ** Would have me inquire of the Lord, to know if 
 they might not obtain of Him to be these three spe- 
 cial witnesses; and finally they became so very so- 
 licitous, and teased me so much, that at length I 
 complied, and through the Urim and Thummim, I 
 obtained for them the following revelation." 
 
 ''It is by your faith that you shall obtain a view 
 of them, even by that faith which was had by the 
 Prophets of old ; and after you have obtained faith, 
 and have seen with your eyes, you shall testify of 
 them by the power of God. And this you shall do 
 that my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., may not be des- 
 troyed. '^'^ 
 
 Think of these men " teasing " Smith for the 
 honor of seeing an angel ! Note the motive un- 
 
 «" Church History," (R), 1:45. 
 
72 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 derlying the whole thing ; that Smith " may not 
 be destroyed." In accordance with their expec- 
 tations, Smith and the three " witnesses " went 
 to the woods to try to obtain by fervent prayer 
 the fulfillment of the promise. 
 
 Not succeeding at first, Martin Harris retired 
 from the group and they prayed again. 
 
 *'When presently we beheld a light above us in 
 the air of exceeding brightness, and behold an angel 
 stood before us. 
 
 In his hands he held the plates which we had been 
 praying for these to have a view of. He turned over 
 the leaves one by one, so we could see them and dis- 
 cover the engravings thereon distinctly.'*^' 
 
 Smith said the angel commanded them to tes- 
 tify that the translation he had given was cor- 
 rect. Then he went in pursuit of Martin Harris, 
 whom he found a short distance away engaged 
 in prayer, but as yet had received no answer. 
 
 *'We accordingly joined in prayer and ultimately 
 obtained our desires, for before we had yet finished 
 the same vision was opened to our view; at least, it 
 was again to me, and I once more beheld and heard 
 the same things; while at the same moment Martin 
 Harris cried out, apparently in ecstasy of joy, * 'Tis 
 enough, mine eyes have beheld. ' " " 
 
 This was a strange experience indeed! It 
 would not be worthy of notice only for the fact 
 
 " " Church History," (R) , i : 45-46. " Ihid. 
 
<^THE BOOK OF MORMON" 73 
 
 that it lias such a place of prominence in the 
 foundations of Mormonism. The Mormons ac- 
 cept this narrative as descriptive of a real trans- 
 action, while their Prophet refers to it as a 
 " vision.'' 
 
 This vision of the Golden Plates in the hands 
 of the angel occurred during the process of 
 translation while they were yet in the hands of 
 Smith. How it comes that the angel had them 
 in his possession, at this time, does not appear. 
 Smith claimed that he gave them back into the 
 hands of the angel after he finished the transla- 
 tion. The claim that he had them to exhibit at 
 this time arouses suspicion. 
 
 Since these men were so " solicitous " to see 
 this sight and had " teased " for the privilege, 
 we observe that their minds were prepared for 
 any illusion. Seeing angels has been a very com- 
 mon thing in Mormon history. A little later, 
 after the disruption of the Church at Nauvoo, 
 there were several men who aspired to fill the 
 slain prophet's place. Among these was his 
 right-hand man, Sidney Eigdon. He succeeded 
 in winning several to follow him and w^ent to 
 Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. At a conference held 
 there in April, 1845, he and his followers had 
 some remarkable experiences, a selection from 
 which follows : 
 
 *'The spirit whispered to me this morning to set 
 
74 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 apart some brethren and consecrate them to God, in 
 a room in my house which I did ; and after washing 
 and anointing and the partriarchal seal, as the 
 Lord had directed me, we kneeled and in solemn 
 prayer we asked the Lord to accept what we had 
 done. 
 
 During the time of prayer there appeared over 
 our heads in the room, a ray of light forming a 
 hollow square, inside of which stood a company of 
 heavenly messengers, each with a banner in his hand 
 with their eyes looking downward upon us . . . 
 
 There also appeared heavenly messengers on horse- 
 back with crowns upon their heads and plumes float- 
 ing in the air dressed in glorious attire. . . . 
 Even my little son saw the vision and gazed with 
 astonishment . . . after which we arose and 
 lifted our hands to heaven in holy convocation to 
 God, at which time it was shown, an angel in heaven 
 registering the acceptance of our work, and the de- 
 cree of the great God, that the kingdom is ours and 
 we shall prevail.*'" 
 
 This testimony Mr. Rigdon published in his 
 paper and, strange to note, some accepted it as 
 true. Those very men engaged with him in this 
 strange religious exercise doubtless believed 
 they saw what he has described. Time is the 
 sure test of all such illusions. His new Church 
 gained but little strength, and finally came to 
 naught. 
 
 Another instance of the same kind: Mr. 
 
 ^^ Messenger and Advocate, 1845, P- 185. 
 
"THE BOOK OF MOEMON»' T6 
 
 James Strang, another rival claimant of the 
 leadership of the Church after the death of the 
 Prophet, says : 
 
 *'An angel of God appeared unto him at half past 
 five o'clock in the afternoon of June 27, 1844, and 
 ordained him to lead the people. ' ' " 
 
 He was able to secure quite a following from 
 among his brethren. He claimed to have found, 
 by divine direction, some more plates, known as 
 the plates of Laban. From these he made a 
 translation; it was published and is known as 
 "The Book of the Law." He found "wit- 
 nesses " who viewed the plates and gave their 
 written testimony as did the Prophet Joseph. 
 He established his headquarters on Beavers 
 Island, in the State of Wisconsin, and received 
 numerous revelations like all good Mormons. 
 His followers have become almost extinct. All ^■ 
 these examples illustrate the credulity of the 
 Mormon people. Without that Mormonism 
 would have failed utterly. 
 
 From Mormon sources we have the following 
 concerning the character of the "three wit- 
 nesses," upon whom the Mormons place such 
 reliance. Smith writes about them : 
 
 *'Such characters as McLellin, John Whitmer, Da- 
 vid Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris 
 
 " " Church History," (R), 3 : 38. 
 
76 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 are too mean to mention and we had like to have 
 forgotten them. 
 
 Marsh and another whose hearts are full of cor- 
 ruption, whose cloak of hypocrisy was not sufficient 
 to shield them/"" 
 
 In a document signed by eighty-three leading 
 men of the Church at Far West, Missouri, June, 
 1838, the following reference is made to Cow- 
 dery and Whitmer : 
 
 ''After Cowdery had been taken by a state war- 
 rant for stealing, and the stolen property was found 
 in the house of W. W. Phelps . . . Oliver Cow- 
 dery, David Whitmer . . . united with a gang 
 of counterfeiters, thieves, liars and black legs of the 
 deepest dye . . . During the full career of 
 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer 's bogus money 
 business it got abroad, etc. They were warned to 
 leave Far West, for ' Vengeance sleepeth not, neither 
 does it slumber, ' they were told and they left. ' ' " 
 
 These men were expelled from the Church, 
 with such charges against them. These facts 
 are not generally known by the Mormons. Whit- 
 mer placed himself at the head of a factional 
 Church known as the " Whitmer ites,'' which has 
 since become extinct. It is claimed that Harris 
 and Cowdery sought shelter with the Utah 
 Church very late in their lives. 
 
 ""^ Millennial Star, Vol. i6, pp. 626-628. 
 ^' " Correspondence Orders," etc., pp. 103-105. Published 
 by I^egislature of Missouri, 1841. 
 
'' THE BOOK OF MOEMON " 77 
 
 It is stoutly afarmed by all Mormons that 
 the three witnesses never denied their written 
 testimony although they were estranged from 
 the Church. 
 
 We have set forth, very briefly, Smith's story 
 of how the book came into his possession ; some 
 reasons why it has appealed to the people ; some 
 of the incidents and events in connection with 
 its translation, showing superstition and rival 
 revelations on the part of early Mormons; we 
 have shown the credulity of the three witnesses 
 who were willing to give credit to rival revela- 
 tions, whose testimony, according to Smith, was 
 a " vision " by faith, rather than the reality the 
 Mormons believe it to have been, and also, some 
 testimony from Mormon sources as to the char- 
 acter of these men. 
 
 What of the book itself? 'No serious consid- 
 eration has ever been given it by men of science. 
 It is considered a fabrication, reflecting many 
 of the current religious and moral issues of the 
 time and locality of its forthcoming. Alexander 
 Campbell, noting the mixture of doctrines in the 
 book, says : 
 
 ''He (the author) decides all the great contro- 
 versies discussed in New York State in the last ten 
 years. Infant baptism, the trinity, regeneration, 
 repentance, justification, the fall of man, transub- 
 stantiation, fasting, penance, church government, the 
 call to the ministry, the general resurrection, eternal 
 
78 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMOKISM 
 
 punishment, who may baptize, and even the ques- 
 tion of Free Masonry, republican government and 
 the rights of man.'' " 
 
 There is throughout the book an imitation 
 
 of the style of the Holy Scriptures. Whole 
 
 '^^ chapters are incorporated word for word. In 
 
 the later editions of the book due credit is given 
 
 of the source. 
 
 yThus one may find/' Isaiah 48 and 49, also 
 Malachi 3 and 4, Matthew 5, 6 and 7, and 1 Cor- 
 inthians 13 may also be found quoted verbatim. 
 Besides these one may find direct quotations 
 from the New Testament, sentences and verses, 
 estimated at 298, between pages 2 to 428." 
 There are many anachronisms in the book. It 
 . is full of incidental proofs of the fraudulent pro- 
 fession that its translation is divine. 
 
 In incorporating, 6. g.^ 1 Corinthians 13 : 5, the 
 phrase " is not easily provoked '' is retained, as 
 in the King James edition. But the word 
 " easily " is not found in the Greek manuscripts 
 and is dropped in the Eevised Version. 
 
 In 1898, Mr. Lamoni Call, of Bountiful, Utah, 
 aroused the indignation of his Mormon brethren 
 ' by the publication of a book of 128 pages en- 
 titled, " 2,000 Changes in the Book of Mormon." 
 / Comparison of any recent edition with the 
 original edition of 1830 will show how the words 
 
 ^' " The Story of the Mormons," p. 98^ 
 
 "/diU, p. 97. "^ Ibid., p. 96. 
 
'*THE BOOK OF MORMON" 79 
 
 have been changed and grammatical errors cor- 
 rected. As each word was given as from God 
 through the Urim and Thummim, the changes 
 arouse suspicion. 
 
 There have been many attempts to account for 
 the origin of the book. One principal theory is 
 that it was borrowed from the writings of Solo- 
 mon Spaulding. Since that theory was put 
 forth a manuscript written by Mr. Spaulding 
 was accidentally discovered among the effects of 
 Mr. Kice, in Honolulu, and is now in the library 
 of Oberlin College. Mr. Kice, President Fair- 
 child and others compared this manuscript with 
 the "Book of Mormon," with the result that 
 they could detect no resemblance between the 
 two in general detail. Later President Fair- 
 child said : " The discovery of this manuscript 
 does not prove that there may not have been an- 
 other, which became the basis of the ' Book of 
 Mormon.' " '' 
 
 Whatever was its origin, the proof of its 
 worth must be in the practical purpose it has 
 served. Its declared purpose is twofold. First, 
 It is a message to the Indians of North America. 
 Second, It is to convince Jew and Gentile that 
 Jesus is the Christ. 
 
 1. Agreeably with the idea that the book 
 would be of great interest to the Indians, some 
 of the first Mormon Elders journeyed to the 
 
 *^ " Islam of America," p. 46. 
 
80 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 West and introduced it to some of them. iNeed- 
 less to say that it has utterly failed to make 
 any impression worthy of notice. There are 
 very few Indians who hold membership in any 
 branch of the Mormon Church. If that book 
 was a gift of God to the Indians, He has no 
 thanks from them for it. 
 
 2. How many Jews or Gentiles have been 
 convinced by this book that Jesus is the Christ? 
 The Mormon Elder usually resorts to passages 
 of Scripture to prove the points of his conten- 
 tion. Yery few Jews have ever identified them- 
 selves with Mormonism. The book has utterly 
 failed so far as its mission to them is concerned. 
 The converts that have been won to Mormonism 
 have, in very large measure, come from the 
 Evangelical Churches of Christendom, who be- 
 lieve that Jesus is the Christ. Hence the book 
 has utterly failed in its own declared purpose. 
 
 One of the fruits of the teaching of this book, 
 according to its declaration, is that it shall go 
 forth among the people : 
 
 '^Unto the eonfounding of false doctrines, and lay- 
 ing down of contentions, and establishing peace 
 among the frnit of thy loins, and bringing them to 
 the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days/''" 
 
 What are the facts? Instead of confounding 
 
 ^'"'Book of Mormon," (R), authorized edition, p. BS, 
 
*«THE BOOK OF MOEMON^' 81 
 
 false doctrine, putting down contentions and 
 bringing peace, its teaching has itself become a 
 matter of contention among the Mormons them- 
 selves, some of them holding that it authorizes 
 the iDractice of polygamy when commanded, 
 others denying it. 
 
 Any changes for the better that have come in 
 the course of Christian history since the publi- 
 cation of the " Book of Mormon," certainly can- 
 not truly be credited to the influence of that 
 book. In this respect it has failed. 
 
 Such is the book whose inspiration is un- 
 doubted by the thousands of persons who con- 
 stitute the Mormon Church. Orson Pratt, a 
 noted Mormon, said : " The nature of the mes- 
 sage of the ^ Book of Mormon ' is such that, if 
 true, none can be saved who reject it, and, if 
 false, none can be saved who receive it." " 
 
 Brigham Young said : " Every spirit that con- 
 fesses that Joseph Smith is a prophet, that he 
 lived and died a prophet, and that the ' Book of 
 Mormon ' is true, is of God, and every spirit that 
 does not is of anti-Christ." '' 
 
 Speaking of the facts of Christianity, Paul 
 declared, " this thing was not done in a cor- 
 ner," '' but no exponent of Mormonism can ever 
 say as much for the " Book of Mormon." 
 
 It has utterly failed to make any serious im- 
 
 ""The Story of the Mormons," p. 98. 
 
 ^^Ihid, ''Acts 26:26. 
 
 ^ 
 
82 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 pression upon anj persons, unless it be the 
 Mormons. 
 
 It has made no valuable contribution to 
 knowledge or religion. It is a cunningly devised 
 fable that requires ignorance, credulity, and su- 
 perstition in order that one may believe in it. 
 
"THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS" 
 
 THIS is the second sacred book published 
 by the Mormons. It is a very small 
 book and very few copies are known to 
 be in existence.' Doubtless, all Mormons of to- 
 day would like to have forgotten that it ever 
 existed. It contained sixty-five revelations 
 which Joseph Smith claimed God gave to him. 
 
 It was published at Independence, Missouri, 
 otherwise known to the Mormons as " Zion," in 
 1833, by W. W. Phelps and Company. On the 
 title page occur the words, " Copyright Secured 
 According to Law." 
 
 In 1835, leading men of the Mormon Church 
 got together at Kirtland, Ohio, and relegated 
 this " Book of Commandments " to the scrap 
 heap, having changed the wording of the revela- 
 tions and modified the principles and utterances 
 contained therein. Hence a new book emerged 
 known as "Doctrine and Covenants." It is 
 rather embarrassing to the Mormons of to-day 
 to face the facts regarding these changed reve- 
 
 * The Author has seen five copies of this old book. 
 83 
 
84 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 lations. It is difficult to see how an unchange- 
 able God can give changeable revelations. 
 
 The Keorganized Church has attempted to 
 explain the matter by asserting that the book 
 was never completed, owing to the destruction 
 of the printing press by a mob of infuriated 
 Missourians ; also, that when compared with the 
 originals the revelations were found to be incor- 
 rect. 
 
 The following is the explanation given : 
 
 *'The ^Book of Commandments' was still in an 
 unfinished condition when the press was destroyed, 
 and with other papers the sheets were scattered in 
 the streets. Some of these scattered sheets were 
 gathered up by private parties and preserved, but 
 the volumes on account of these circumstances are 
 very scarce. These when compared with original 
 manuscripts were found to be very faulty, and 
 hence the book has never been republished nor in- 
 dorsed by the Church." ' 
 
 There is much evidence which may be pro- 
 duced from authentic sources which is not in 
 agreement with this explanation, given by the 
 historian of the Keorganized Church. Mr. 
 Phelps, who printed these revelations, had been 
 appointed by revelation as a " Printer unto the 
 Church." He was assigned the task of printing 
 this book and Oliver Cowdery was to assist him 
 
 ^Journal of History, (R), Vol. 5, p. 148. 
 
*^THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS '» 85 
 
 by copying, selecting, etc., " that all things may 
 be right before me," ' as directed by revelation. 
 Cowdery, accompanied by John Whitmer, took 
 these revelations from Ohio to Missouri, where 
 they were printed. There was some difQ.culty in 
 getting them bound in book form. A consider- 
 able time before the press was destroyed. Smith 
 wrote Phelps as follows : 
 
 *' First, as respects getting the 'Book of Command- 
 ments' bomid, we think that it is not necessary. They 
 will be sold well without binding, and there is no 
 book binder to be had as we know of, nor are there 
 materials to be had for binding, without keeping 
 the book too long from circulation.'' * 
 
 The surviving copies of this book show that 
 they were bound not in a manner in keeping 
 with skilled workmanship — ^but they were 
 bound in a book ! This is the point. About the 
 same time Smith wrote again : 
 
 ''Consign the box of the Books of Commandments, 
 to N. K. Whitney and Co., Kirtland, Geauga County, 
 Ohio ; Care of Kelley & Walworth, Cleveland, Cuy- 
 ahoga County, 01iio.''° 
 
 Mr. Phelps had printed many of these reve- 
 lations in a periodical called The Evening and 
 the Morning Star. Copies had been sent back 
 
 "'Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 57:5 also 69:1. 
 
 * Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, p. 800. ° Ibid., p. 802. 
 
86 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 to the heads of the Church in Ohio. In a letter 
 from Smith he says : 
 
 * * The following errors we have found in the Com- 
 mandments as printed : fortieth chapter, tenth verse, 
 third line, instead of corruptible, put corrupted. 
 Fourteenth verse of the same chapter, fifth line, in- 
 stead of respecter to persons, put respecter of per- 
 sons. 
 
 Forty-fourth chapter, twelfth verse, last line, in- 
 stead of hands put heads. ' ' ° 
 
 These statements show that the book was in 
 form as a book and the errors were only such as 
 are common in copying and printing. 
 
 But when we examine this revelation referred 
 to, as it reappeared in the ^* Doctrine and Cove- 
 nants '' in 1835, we find more than one hundred 
 words are added and many words taken there- 
 from. Here is an example of the changes made : 
 
 BOOK OF COMMAND- DOCTRINE AND 
 
 MENTS COVENANTS 
 
 "If thou lovest me thou "If thou lovest me, thou 
 shalt serve me and keep all shalt serve me and keep all 
 my commandments ; and be- my commandments. And l:)e- 
 hold. thou shalt consecrate all hold, thou wilt remember the 
 thy properties, that which poor, and consecrate of thy 
 thou hast unto me, with a properties for their support, 
 covenant and a deed which that which thou hast to im- 
 cannot be broken; and they part unto them, with a cove- 
 shall be laid before the bishop nant and a deed which can- 
 of my Church, and two of the not be broken ; and inasmuch 
 elders, such as he shall ap- as ye impart of your sub- 
 point and set apart for that stance unto the poor, ye will 
 purpose. do it unto me, and they shall 
 
 ^ Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, pp. 800-801. 
 
**THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS^' 87 
 
 And it shall come to pass be laid before the bishop of 
 that the Bishop of my Church, my Church and his counsel- 
 after that he has received the ors, two of the elders or high 
 properties of my Church, that priests, such as he shall or 
 it cannot be taken from the has appointed and set apart 
 Church, he shall appoint every for that purpose, 
 man a steward over his own And it shall come to pass 
 property, or that which he after they are laid before the 
 has received, inasmuch as is bishop of my Church, and 
 sufficient for himself and after that he has received 
 family." ' these testimonies concerning 
 
 the consecration of the prop- 
 erties of my Church, agree- 
 ably to my commandments; 
 every man shall be made ac- 
 countable unto me, a steward 
 over his own property, or 
 that which he has received by 
 consecration, inasmuch as is 
 sufficient for himself and 
 family." « 
 
 From this may be seen how the revelations 
 were tampered with; not only the words being 
 changed but new ideas introduced as well. Note 
 that there is a vast difference between consecra- 
 tion of " all ^' thy properties '^ unto me '^ and 
 the consecration "of" thy properties unto 
 " them," the poor. Note also, the reference to 
 " High Priests," not mentioned in the original. 
 This may be explained by the fact that the com- 
 ing of High Priests was an aftermath. Smith 
 was continually adding something new to his 
 new-found religion and the High Priests was 
 one of the latest things evolved. He must needs 
 make a place for them even if that necessitated 
 
 '"Book of Commandments," p. 92. 
 ■ " Doctrine and Covenants," 42 : 8-9. 
 
8S THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 a cliange in his revelations. Here is another 
 example : 
 
 " O remember these words " O remember these words 
 and keep my commandments, and keep my commandments! 
 Remember this is your gift. Remember this is your gift. 
 Now this is not all for you Now this is not all thy gift, 
 have another gift, which is for you have another gift 
 the gift of working with the which is the gift of Aaron; 
 rod; behold it has told you behold it has told you 
 things, behold there is no many things; behold there 
 other power save God that is no other power save 
 can cause this rod of nature, the power of God that can 
 to work in your hands, for it cause this gift of Aaron to 
 is the work of God; and be with you; therefore doubt 
 'therefor&whatsoever you shall not, for it is the gift of God, 
 ask me to tell you by that and you shall hold it in your 
 means that will I grant unto hands, and do marvelous 
 you, that you shall know." ^ works ; and no power shall 
 
 be able to take it away out of 
 your hands, for it is the work 
 of God. And, therefore, 
 whatsoever you shall ask me 
 to tell you by that means, that 
 will I grant unto you, and you 
 shall have knowledge con- 
 cerning it." " 
 
 Here is a direct admission of a superstitious 
 practice sanctioned by a revelation. 
 
 The world has ever believed that Mormon ism 
 is a revival of some of the lowest forms of 
 ignorance and superstition and here is first-hand 
 evidence for such a conviction. 
 
 To allow a revelation placing divine sanction 
 upon the working of a common " Divining Eod," 
 to remain in a text-book of Mormonism would be 
 to invite unfavorable criticism. Hence a new 
 idea is given in its stead, ^^ The Gift of 
 
 " " Book of Commandments," chap. 7, par. 3. 
 ^°" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 8, par. 3. 
 
"THE BOOK OF COIVBIANDMENTS " 89 
 
 Aaron/^ takes tlie place of " The Kod of Na- 
 ture." This is only an example of Mormon cun- 
 ning, to leave tke matter in mystery; for who 
 can tell what this " Gift of Aaron " really was 
 or is? 
 
 There is direct evidence that this " Book of 
 Commandments " was recognized as an author- 
 ity, as a book of reference by the Mormon peo- 
 ple up to the time of publication of the " Doc- 
 trine and Covenants." Note the following : 
 
 *'It will be seen by reference to the 'Book of Com- 
 mandments, ' page 135, that the Lord has said to the 
 Church," etc. . . . 
 
 Further along in the same connection : 
 
 **But if any man will take the pains to read the 
 one hundred and fifty-third page of the 'Book of 
 Commandments,' he will find it there said," etc." 
 
 This was contained in an " Appeal," signed by 
 twelve of the leaders of the Church in Missouri, 
 in July, 1834. This shows that one year after 
 the press was destroyed the book was in common 
 use and " any man " was invited to read it. 
 Any man may go to the New York City Public 
 Library and read it now. What was the effect 
 on the Mormons when the new book of revela- 
 tions appeared in place of the old one? David 
 Whitmer, one of the famous witnesses, tells us ; 
 
 " " Church History," (R), i : 510. 
 
90 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 ^'I want to tell the brethren that when the book 
 of 'Doctrine and Covenants' was published, and pre- 
 sented to the Church assembly in Kirtland, Ohio, in 
 August, 1835, as recorded in the old church papers, 
 a very few of the brethren then knew about most 
 of the important changes that had been put in the 
 'Book of Doctrine and Covenants.' In time it was 
 generally found out and the result was that some of 
 the members left the Church on account of it. 
 
 . . . Many of the brethren objected seriously 
 to it, but they did not want to say much for the sake 
 of peace, as it was brother Joseph and the leaders 
 who did it."" 
 
 The changes were made by a committee con- 
 sisting of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sid- 
 ney Rigdon and F. G. Williams. Speaking of 
 the work, Cowdery said : 
 
 ** There are many typographical errors in both 
 volumes wherein the revelations were first printed 
 and especially in the last, which we shall endeavor 
 carefully to correct, as well as principle, if we dis- 
 cover any. ' ' '' 
 
 To take the liberty to make corrections of 
 principles in a document, as well as common 
 typographical errors, especially in a document 
 purporting to be a revelation from the Al- 
 mighty, would be unusual indeed. Mr. Whit- 
 mer tells us that he objected most strenuously 
 
 ^^ Whitmer's Address, p. 6i. 
 
 ^^ Journal of History, Vol. 5, p. 152. 
 
"THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS^^ 91 
 
 to the publication of the revelations in the first 
 place, fearing as he did, the effect upon the 
 minds of the people in Missouri. He said that 
 Smith told him : 
 
 ** Any man who objects to having these revelations 
 published shall have his part taken out of the Tree 
 of Life and out of the Holy City.'' " 
 
 One or two quotations from the revelations 
 will show how the inhabitants of Missouri were 
 regarded by the Mormons at that time. 
 
 **Ye shall assemble yourselves together to rejoice 
 upon the land of Missouri, which is the land of your 
 inheritance, which is now the land of your ene- 
 mies/'" 
 
 That would be very strange talk to the Mis- 
 sourians! They began to realize as the Mor- 
 mons came pouring in upon them in great niun- 
 bers, that there were new complications in their 
 social life on account of these people which they 
 must face. Another revelation said : 
 
 ''For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by 
 the mouths of my prophets shall be fulfilled; for I 
 will consecrate the riches of the Gentiles, unto my 
 people which are of the house of Israel."" 
 
 Of course that meant that in any case the 
 
 " Whitmer's Address, p. 55. 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 52:9- 
 
 " " Book of Commandments," chap. 44, par. 32. 
 
92 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Mormons were to get the riches, and as all non- 
 Mormons are Gentiles, tlie Missourians began to 
 wonder about the safety of the inheritance their 
 fathers had left them. Concerning the Mor- 
 mons, they said : 
 
 ''They declare openly that their God hath given 
 them this County of land, and that sooner or later 
 they must and will have the possession of our lands 
 for an inheritance. ' ' " 
 
 The Missourians met the challenge in the old- 
 time Western way. They told the Mormons to 
 move on. They applied force as well as words, 
 and as a part of the fray the Mormon printing 
 press was destroyed. All Mormondom has an 
 eye upon Jackson County, Missouri, even to this 
 day. However, they have changed their revela- 
 tions as well as their conduct, so that several 
 hundreds live there unmolested at this time. 
 
 The Mormons charge that evil men have taken 
 away the plain and precious parts of God's 
 word,'' putting in place thereof the doctrines of 
 men, changing it to suit the tastes of the people, 
 etc. 
 
 But is Mormonism consistent with its own 
 charges? Can they honestly face the facts with 
 regard to the changes they have made in the 
 revelations, which they boldly claim have been 
 given them from Almighty God? 
 
 ""Church History," (R), 1:314- 
 
 "See preface of "Inspired Translation of the Bible," (R). 
 
"THE BOOK OF DOCTEINE AND 
 COVENANTS '' ' 
 
 THIS sacred book of Mormonism con- 
 tains the revelations given through its 
 chief Prophet, Joseph Smith. There 
 are several editions of the book published by the 
 two principal branches of Mormonism, the Utah 
 Church and the Eeorganized Church. 
 
 On the title page of the editions published by 
 the Eeorganized Church the following words 
 apiDcar, " Carefully selected from the revela- 
 tions of God." This statement is interesting, in 
 view of the fact that there were several revela- 
 tions, of equal authority and significance, ex- 
 cluded from the collection. In the later editions 
 may be found several revelations given through 
 Joseph Smith, the eldest son of the Prophet. 
 
 The editions published by the Utah Church 
 include nearly, if not all, the revelations given 
 in the period before the division in the Church. 
 From the examination of the " Book of Com- 
 mandments " as noted in the previous chapter, 
 it will appear that the " Doctrine and Cove- 
 nants " has this book as its chief source. Nearly 
 
 * Quotations are made from Reorganized Church edition 
 of 1901 and Utah Church edition of 1880, 
 
 93 
 
94 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 all the revelations wMch appear in the " Doc- 
 trine and Covenants " have been reedited and 
 changed. This is particularly true of all reve- 
 lations included in the first edition of 1835. 
 This is a fact of vital importance to all Mor- 
 mons as they believe in verbal inspiration. 
 
 The purpose of this chapter will be to review 
 some statements concerning the manner of re- 
 ceiving revelations; to note some of the teach- 
 ings of the book, and reproduce some of the ex- 
 cluded revelations. 
 
 How are revelations received? One explana- 
 tion is given in the form of a revelation to Oliver 
 Cowdery as follows : 
 
 ^'Behold you have not understood; you have sup- 
 posed that I would give it unto you, when you took 
 no thought, save it was to ask me ; but, behold I say 
 unto you, that you must study it out in your mind ; 
 then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is 
 right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within 
 you; therefore you shall feel that it is right; 
 but if it be not right, you shall have no such 
 feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought, that 
 shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; 
 therefore you cannot write that which is sacred, save 
 it be given you from me. Now, if you had known 
 this, you could have translated; nevertheless it is 
 not expedient that you should translate now/' ' 
 
 This statement seems to be a description of 
 
 '"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec, 9, 
 
<* DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS" 95 
 
 Ms own experience when religiously active. 
 The circumstances under which this revelation 
 w^as given were as follows : Cowdery was writ- 
 ing as Smith was pretending to translate from 
 the ancient records. Cowdery was promised 
 that he should be given this gift to translate but 
 when he made the attempt he failed, hence the 
 explanation. 
 
 It would appear that the revelations given by 
 Smith had no higher authority than his thoughts 
 and feelings ; things that he had studied out in 
 his mind and felt were according to his ideas. 
 This is a very insecure and unsafe basis for 
 statements which are accepted by the Mormons 
 as the literal words of the Almighty. 
 
 In the above quotation we have light shed 
 upon his method and manner of translation. 
 According to this he translated, not by any prac- 
 tical knowledge of ancient letters, the transla- 
 tion being his thoughts plus their confirmation 
 by his feelings. His wife describes his work of 
 translation: She sat by his side writing, the 
 Golden Plates were lying on a table covered 
 over, while Smith sat with his face buried in a 
 hat looking at a stone.' 
 
 Thus he was able to translate without even 
 looking at the plates. Mrs. Smith says that 
 she did not look at the plates as she did not feel 
 that it was necessary to do so. 
 
 •"Church History," (R), 3:356-357. 
 
96 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 It is difficult to understand how one could 
 liave the boldness to claim for himself such 
 power as did Smith. His claims and his pro- 
 ductions made on such a basis would not re- 
 ceive the slightest consideration save for the 
 fact that many people have been and are being 
 deceived by them. 
 
 Joseph Smith, son of the Prophet and for 
 several years president of the Keorganized 
 Church, gave his opinion as follows : 
 
 *^ Revelations, as I understand it, are received in 
 different ways, sometimes by impression, sometimes 
 by the person becoming conscious of it, and some- 
 times by audible voice heard by the individual by 
 whom the revelation is received, and sometimes by 
 a direct messenger, and sometimes by what we 
 understand to be the direct intervention of the spirit. 
 
 A man may be mistaken even though he be the 
 President of the Church, as to the genuineness or 
 authenticity of revelations claimed to have been re- 
 ceived. ' ' * 
 
 The revelations given by this man lack the 
 bold unqualified form of assertion, so outstand- 
 ing in those of his father. As thoughts and feel- 
 ings are so diverse in individuals, the Mormons 
 have a common understanding that in order for 
 a revelation to be received seriously it must come 
 from the chief Prophet, from one mind, thus 
 avoiding confusion. If, as the above statement 
 
 *" Evidence in Temple I^ot Suit," pp. 75-76. 
 
"DOCTEIKE AKD COVENANTS^' 97 
 
 afArins, a revelation may be but the mistaken 
 idea of the man giving it, what a flimsy founda- 
 tion it is as a basis for serious action and con- 
 duct. If one follows the course of the Church 
 operating under direction of Smithes revela- 
 tions he will see how glaring were the mistaken 
 ideas he put forth. Mormonism under the 
 leadershij) of Brigham Young reduced revela- 
 tion to a minimum and exalted practical genius 
 to the maximum. 
 
 Smith evidently did not recognize the pos- 
 sibility of his revelations being but his mistaken 
 notions. By his revelation the Church was 
 commanded : 
 
 ** Wherefore, meaning the Church, thou shalt give 
 heed unto all his words, which he shall give unto 
 you, as he reeeiveth them, walking in all holiness 
 before me ; for his word ye shall receive, as if from 
 mine own mouth. '*" 
 
 The Mormons believe the revelations are the 
 spoken utterances of the Almighty. Believing 
 this, it was not difficult for them to accept, even 
 the doctrine of plurality of wives. 
 
 Concerning the teaching of the book it may 
 be said that it contains many things that are 
 practical and Christian in sentiment. These, 
 however, are intermixed with movements and 
 schemes the outcome of which reveal the real 
 
 •"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 19, par. 2. 
 
98 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 nature and deception with which they are asso- 
 ciated. As an example of the same we may note 
 a revelation given unto Martin Harris : 
 
 **And, again, I command thee that thou shalt pray 
 vocally as well as in thy heart ; yea, before the world 
 as well as in secret; in public as well as in private 
 . . . Pray always and I will pour out my spirit 
 upon you, and great shall be your blessing; yea, 
 even more than if you should obtain treasures of 
 earth.''" 
 
 In the same connection with this exhortation 
 to pray, Mr. Harris is commanded as follows : 
 
 *'And again, I command thee that thou shalt not 
 covet thy neighbor's wife; nor seek thy neighbor's 
 life. And, again, I command thee that thou shalt 
 not covet thine own property, but impart it freely 
 to the printing of the 'Book of Mormon' . . . 
 Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of 
 thy lands, and all save the support of thy family. 
 Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the 
 printer.'" 
 
 When the "Book of Mormon" manuscript 
 was ready for the printer, Smith met a difdculty. 
 He had no money to pay the bill. To overcome 
 this he gives a revelation to Mr. Harris, who 
 owned a farm in that vicinity. Thus it may be 
 seen that the exhortation to pray and engage in 
 
 ^"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. i8. ^ Ibid. 
 
"DOOTEINE AND COVEKAKTS'' 99 
 
 otliep common religious practices was in connec- 
 tion with the scheme to get the " Book of Mor- 
 mon" printed. 
 
 In 1841, at Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith wanted a 
 house built for himself, so he gave a revelation, 
 to that effect: 
 
 *'And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my 
 boarding house, which I have commanded you to 
 build, for the boarding of strangers, let it be built 
 unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, 
 and let my servant Joseph and his house have place 
 therein; from generation to generation; for this 
 anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing 
 shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after 
 him; And as I said unto Abraham, concerning the 
 kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant 
 Joseph, In thee, and in thy seed shall all the kindred 
 of the earth be blessed/' ' 
 
 To carry out this project a stock company was 
 formed to receive shares of not less than fifty 
 and not more than fifteen thousand dollars. 
 Several persons were commanded to pay for 
 stock : 
 
 **Let my servant William Marks pay stock into 
 that house, as it seemeth him good, for himself and 
 his generation, from generation to generation. 
 
 Let my servant Henry G. Sherwood pay stock into 
 that house, as seemeth him good, for himself and his 
 seed after him, from generation to generation. 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:18, 
 
100 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Let my servant William Law pay stock into that 
 house, for himself and his seed after him, from gen- 
 eration to generation. ' ' " 
 
 The house was erected but because of the in- 
 iquitous practices of the Mormons they were 
 driven out of the State and the promises to suc- 
 ceeding generations of those who paid money 
 into it failed miserably, as did all the material 
 schemes of Prophet Smith. 
 
 Not only did the revelations have to do with 
 selling farms and building boarding houses but 
 with secret and mysterious practices as well. 
 In connection with this same revelation, Smith 
 commanded that a Temple should be built, in 
 which strange things were to take place, de- 
 scribed as follows : 
 
 ^'And, again, verily I say unto you, How shall 
 your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye per- 
 form them in a house which you have built to my 
 name . . . that your anointings and your 
 washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your 
 solemn assemblies and your memorials for your sac- 
 rifices, by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles for 
 your most holy places.'' ^" 
 
 Notwithstanding the claim had been made 
 that the fullness of the Gospel had been restored, 
 here is added a lot of practices that seem en- 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:25-27. 
 ''Ibid., 107:12. 
 
"DOCTEINE AND COVENANTS" 101 
 
 tirely foreign to it. The Churcli in Utah has 
 carried on a system of secret practices in its 
 Temples and Endowment Houses in keeping 
 with the instructions given." The Reorganized 
 Church while professing belief in this revelation 
 has nothing in its practices in accordance with 
 it. It is believed that the origin of these prac- 
 tices grew out of Masonry. 
 
 The Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois granted 
 a dispensation for a Masonic Lodge at Nauvoo. 
 It was reported that some 1,500 Mormons were 
 initiated in about three months and in a very 
 irregular way. The records were demanded by 
 a committee of investigation but the request 
 was treated with contempt. For this the dis- 
 pensation was revoked and the lodge declared 
 clandestine and fellowship withdrawn. Smith 
 then denounced Masonry as an unholy imitation 
 of the priesthood and proceeded to invent his 
 " endowment rite " which he called the true 
 Masonry known to Seth and Solomon. He be- 
 gan to administer those rites over his brick store 
 in a room he had prepared at I^auvoo." 
 
 In this same revelation the commandment 
 came to practice the doctrine of Baptism for the 
 dead. The following is part of the instructions 
 given : 
 
 " " Doctrines and Dogmas of Utah Mormonism Ex- 
 posed," (R), page 107 ff., gives an official description of 
 the Temple Endowment ceremonies. 
 
 " " Brigham Young and his Mormon Empire," p. 36^^. 
 
102 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 '^ There is not a place found on earth that he may 
 come and restore that which was lost unto you, or, 
 which he hath taken away, even the fullness of the 
 priesthood; for a baptismal font there is not upon 
 the earth ; that they, my saints, may be baptized for 
 the dead; for this ordinance belongeth to my house, 
 and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of 
 your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a 
 house unto me.''" 
 
 The ordinance was administered in the river 
 at i^auvoo for a time and has been practiced in 
 the Temples of the Utah Mormons for many 
 years. 
 
 The Reorganized Church, while professing 
 belief in the doctrine, does not practice the 
 same. The position assumed is that they are 
 not to practice it until the Lord commands it. 
 
 The Prophet said : 
 
 ''Those Saints who neglect it, in behalf of their 
 deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own 
 salvation. ' ' " 
 
 This strange and mysterious doctrine is said 
 to have its Scriptural basis in the following : 
 
 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for 
 the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? Why are they 
 then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in 
 jeopardy every hour. ' ' " 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:10. 
 ^* Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, p. 578. 
 " I Cor. 15 : 29-30. 
 
"DOCTRmE AI^D COVENANTS ^» 103 
 
 It is doubtless true that the people to whom 
 Paul was writing were practicing some such 
 doctrine. He was trying to convince them con- 
 cerning the resurrection of the dead. He does 
 not sanction their practice of baptism for the 
 dead but uses the fact of their belief in it to con- 
 vince them that it was all useless if the dead 
 rise not. The doctrine has no sanction in the 
 teachings of Christ. K^ote the following ex- 
 planation : 
 
 '* Verse 29, A most difficult verse, of which the 
 interpretations that have been given are endless. 
 Some excellent expositors think it refers to the prac- 
 tice of Christians allowing themselves to be baptized 
 as substitutes for converts who were candidates for 
 baptism, but died before being baptized . . . 
 that such a strange practice did exist, in the early 
 Church there can be no doubt ; but among whom 1 
 
 Only among the heretical followers of Cerinthus, 
 if we may credit Epiphanius and Tertullian. There 
 is no ground to believe that it was practiced in the 
 orthodox churches, and the writers now quoted, 
 plainly regarded it as anti-christian. * ' " 
 
 The following is also of interest in this con- 
 nection : 
 
 **Such a practice existed among the Marcionites in 
 the second century, and still earlier amongst a sect 
 called the Cerinthians. The idea evidently was that, 
 
 "" International Illustrated Commentary," Vol. 3, p. 226. 
 
104 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 whatever benefit flowed from baptism, might be thus 
 vicariously secured for the deceased Cliristian. 
 
 St. Chrysostom gives the following description of 
 it: * After a catechumen was dead, they hid a living 
 man under the bed of the deceased; then, coming 
 to the bed of the dead man they spoke to him, and 
 asked him whether he would receive baptism; and, 
 he making no answer, the other replied in his stead, 
 and so they baptised the living for the dead.' 
 
 Does St. Paul then by what he here says, sanction 
 the superstitious practice ? Certainly not. He care- 
 fully separated himself from the Corinthians, to 
 whom he immediately addresses himself, from those 
 who adopted this custom . . . Those who do 
 that, and disbelieve a resurrection, refute themselves. 
 
 This custom probably sprang up among the Jewish 
 converts, who had been accustomed to something 
 similar in their faith. If a Jew died without having 
 been purified from some ceremonial uncleanness, 
 some living person had the necessary ablution per- 
 formed on him, and the dead were so accounted 
 clean."" 
 
 In reviving this unchristian and heretical 
 practice in the form of a revelation from God, 
 the Prophet has displayed his ignorance of his- 
 tory and the facts adduced by proper methods of 
 interpretation. The Utah Church has continued 
 the practice of this doctrine ever since its intro- 
 duction. A member of the Church has the 
 privilege of thus redeeming from hell all his 
 
 "Quoted from "The Story of the Mormons," by Linn, 
 p. 119. 
 
^'DOCTEINE AND COVENANTS^' 105 
 
 dead relatives who have died without havins 
 received the Gospel. There are those who regu- 
 larly do what they call " Temple work," that 
 is, they are baptized over and over again in be- 
 half of the dead. In this way many who are 
 accounted as worthy men and women who are 
 now in the sj^irit world are redeemed. The Ke- 
 organized Church takes the position that the 
 whole Church was rejected of God because the 
 Temple was not finished within a certain time. 
 Part of the revelation says : 
 
 **But I command you, all ye my saints, to build 
 a house unto me; and I grant you a sufficient time 
 to build a house unto me, and during this time your 
 baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But, behold, 
 at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for 
 your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if 
 ye do not these things at the end of the appoint- 
 ment, ye shall be rejected as a Church, with your 
 dead, saith the Lord your God.'' ^ 
 
 Against the assertion that " The Temple was 
 never completed," '' we offer the following taken 
 from a county paper published in that vicinity 
 at that time. 
 
 '^DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF GOD 
 IN THE CITY OF NAUVOO" 
 
 *'This splendid edifice is now completed, and 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107: lo-ii. 
 " " Brighamism Exposed," (R), p. 102. 
 
106 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOKMONISM 
 
 will be dedicated to the Most High God on Fri- 
 day the 1st day of May, 1846. 
 
 . . . tickets may be had at the watch- 
 house near the door of the Temple, and also at 
 the office of the Trustees in Trust at $1 each. 
 
 James Whitehead, Clerk. 
 Nauvooy April 10, 1846/"" 
 
 The position of the Reorganized Church re- 
 garding the doctrine of Baptism for the dead is 
 like that of the Utah Church in regard to the 
 practice of polygamy. That is : They profess to 
 believe it but deny the practice of it. 
 
 The outcome of the building of the " Board- 
 ing House" and the Temple, both authorized 
 by revelation, is interesting. In the Hancock 
 Eagle, of May 29, 1846, notice is given by one 
 Abram Van Tuyl, to the effect that he has taken 
 over the property of the " Boarding House " and 
 fitted it up in superior style as a hotel for 
 travellers and boarders. What about the reve- 
 lation commanding men to put stock in it for 
 themselves and their seed after them from 
 generation to generation? The project did not 
 hold together for one generation. 
 
 In the same secular paper, published in Han- 
 cock County, Illinois, in its issue of June 26, 
 1846, three advertisements apiiear authorized 
 by ofQ-cers of the Mormon Church. The Temple 
 
 ^'^ Hancock Eagle, April lo, 1846. 
 
"DOCTEINE AND COVENANTS'' 107 
 
 at Ertland, Ohio, the first one built by the 
 Mormons, is offered for sale, also the Temple 
 at Nauvoo and a Brewery situated in the same 
 place. Two Temples and a Brewery ! A great 
 combination to be offered for sale by a Church, 
 professing to be the one and only true Church 
 on earth ! 
 
 We will now give attention to some of the ex- 
 cluded revelations. One revelation, to which 
 the Mormon polemic points with boldness and 
 pride, and known as the Prophecy of the Re- 
 bellion — The Civil War — given December 25, 
 1832, is found in its order and place in the 
 Utah edition of the " Doctrine and Covenants. '' 
 It is omitted from most editions published by 
 the Reorganized Church, but, strange to note, it 
 is inserted on the last page, succeeding the in- 
 dex, in the edition of 1901. If the revelation is 
 regarded as genuine and true, as it generally 
 is by all Mormons, why omit it here and insert 
 it there? A close examination of the revela- 
 tion in the light of facts will disclose the reason 
 why it has apparently been placed on the doubt- 
 ful list. 
 
 The following is a revelation, which is in- 
 serted by the Prophet in the history of his life, 
 written by himself. 
 
 ''Verily thus saith the Lord unto my servant 
 Joseph, concerning my servant Warren (Parrish) 
 
108 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 . . . Behold it shall come to pass in his day that 
 he shall see great things show forth themselves unto 
 my people ; he shall see much of my ancient records 
 and shall know of hidden things, and shall be en- 
 dowed with knowledge of hidden languages; and if 
 he desires and shall seek it at my hands, he shall be 
 privileged with writing much of my word, as a scribe 
 unto me for the benefit of my people ; therefore this 
 shall be his calling until I shall order it otherwise 
 in my wisdom ; and it shall be said of him in time to 
 come. Behold, Warren, the Lord's Scribe, for the 
 Lord's Seer, whom he hath appointed in Israel. 
 Therefore, if he shall keep my commandments, he 
 shall be lifted up at the last day.'"* 
 
 This was given on the 14th day of November, 
 1835. It is excluded by the Keorganized 
 Church, also the Utah. Church has omitted it 
 from their edition of the " Doctrine and Cove- 
 nants." Why this omission? The revelation 
 is just as genuine as any other Smith gave. Time 
 works out the false and rings in the true, how- 
 ever, and these revelations cannot stand the 
 test. Only a short time after this revelation 
 was given, the Prophet denounced Mr. Parrish 
 and his mother in terms so vile and obscene 
 that we cannot reproduce them here." 
 
 Mr. Parrish later reviewed his experiences in 
 connection with Mormonism as follows : 
 
 '^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 424. 
 ^^ Elders* Journal, August, 1838. 
 
"DOCTEINE AND CX)VENANTS^' 109 
 
 *'I was once a peculiar favorite of the Prophet 
 and rulers in Israel, called to be his scribe by reve- 
 lation, wrote his early history, kept his daily journal, 
 superintended his mercantile, land, and banking 
 speculations under his directions. 
 
 I joined the church in 1833 and withdrew in 1837 
 at the head of some forty others, and shortly after 
 was excommunicated by a Bull from his Holiness; 
 and not long after that, I made Kirtland, the Stake 
 of Zion, so exceedingly unpleasant to him, that he 
 got a revelation to leave between two days and has 
 not been there since. ' ' ^ 
 
 The revelation, in the light of these facts, 
 would not be very inspiring, even to a Mor- 
 mon — perhaps that is the reason both branches 
 of Mormonisni have chosen to keep it from 
 attention. 
 
 Here is part of another revelation that is of 
 some interest in view of its assertion : 
 
 ^* Verily thus saith the Lord unto my servant Will- 
 iam Marks, and also unto my servant N. K. Whit- 
 ney, let them settle up their business speedily and 
 journey from the land of Kirtland, before I, the 
 Lord, send again the snows upon the earth . .' . 
 Is there not room enough upon the mountains of 
 Adam-ondi-Ahman, and upon the plains of Olaha 
 Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt, that you 
 should covet that which is but the drop and neglect 
 the more weighty matters? Therefore come up 
 ""Mormonism Exposed," by Bennett, p. 47. 
 
110 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 hither unto the land of my people, even Zion. , . . 
 Let my servant N. K. Whitney be ashamed of the 
 Nicholatine band and of all their secret abomina- 
 tions."" 
 
 The Utah Church has included this revelation 
 in their book/' but the Keorganized Church has 
 excluded it. However, the Keorganized Church 
 has included one given on the same date, July 8, 
 1838, given under the same circumstances, on 
 the subject of Tithing.'" 
 
 Note that the above revelation asserts that 
 Adam dwelt out on the plains of Missouri. 
 That is very interesting information and it 
 would seem, if true, that the Reorganized 
 Church would herald forth the information 
 since their Prophet has declared it. But they 
 have chosen to keep this from the critical con- 
 sideration of the people. 
 
 It should also be noted that the Prophet re- 
 fers to a part of the Mormons at Xirtland as a 
 "Nicholatine band." The Gentile neighbors 
 around Kirtland had suspicions that the Mor- 
 mons were believing in polygamy. These sus- 
 picions were so effective that the Church of- 
 ficially declared, in 1835, the following : 
 
 ** Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been re- 
 
 ** Millennial Star, Vol. l6, p. 183. 
 "'"Doctrine and Covenants," (U), sec. 117. 
 '•"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec, xo6. 
 
"DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS^' 111 
 
 proached with the crime of fornication, and polyg- 
 amy; we declare that we believe that one man 
 should have one wife; and one woman but one hus- 
 band/'" 
 
 The revelation to Mr. Marks and Whitney 
 comes from the Prophet who is out in Missouri. 
 That he should make the charge in the form of a 
 revelation is the best of evidence that he knew 
 of something in actual practice that had aroused 
 the moral conscience of the Gentiles about Kirt- 
 land. Of course the Mormons in Utah believe 
 in polygamy and on that account they later re- 
 moved the above declaration from their " Doc- 
 trine and Covenants." As the Keorganized 
 Church contends that polygamy came in under 
 Brigham Young it would by no means 
 strengthen their cause to print a revelation 
 from their Prophet accusing the Mormons at 
 Kirtland of that practice. 
 
 We will present one more of the revelations 
 excluded by the Eeorganized Church. It was 
 given at Salem, Massachusetts, August 6, 1836. 
 Smith relates in his autobiography how he and 
 his brother Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon and Oliver 
 Cowdery had journeyed to that place from Kirt- 
 land, Ohio. A Mormon named Burgess had 
 told a story of a house in Salem, in the cellar of 
 which was buried a large amount of money. 
 
 •^"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. in. 
 
112 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 Smith credited the report and set out to get it.** 
 The revelation reads : 
 
 **I, the Lord God, am not displeased with your 
 coming this journey, notwithstanding your follies;^ 
 I have much treasure in this city for you, for the 
 benefit of Zion ; and many people in this city whom 
 I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion 
 through your instrumentality ! 
 
 Therefore it is expedient that you should form 
 acquaintance with men in this city, as you shall be 
 led, and as it shall be given you ; and it shall come to 
 pass in due time, that I will give this city into your 
 hands, that you may have power over it, insomuch 
 that they shall not discover your secret parts; and 
 its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be 
 yours. 
 
 Concern not yourselves about your debts for I 
 will give you power to pay them. Concern not your- 
 selves about Zion for I will deal mercifully with her. 
 Tarry in this place and in the regions round about ; 
 and the place where it is my will that you shall 
 tarry, for the main, shall be signallized unto you by 
 the peace and power of my spirit, that shall flow 
 unto you. 
 
 This place you may obtain by hire and etc. And 
 enquire diligently concerning the more ancient in- 
 habitants and founders of this city; for there are 
 more treasures than one for you in this city; there- 
 fore be as wise as serpents and yet without sin, and 
 
 '*" Story of the Mormons," by Linn, p. 147. See also 
 Millennial Star, Vol. 15, pp. 281, 822. 
 
**DOCTEINE AND COVENANTS" 113 
 
 I will order all things for your good as fast as ye are 
 able to receive them. Amen. * ' ^^ 
 
 It would seem that the reading of such a reve- 
 lation would shake the faith of any believer in 
 Mormonism. The Utah Church, though they 
 must be ashamed of the thing, have included it 
 in their book.'" When the Mormon of to-day 
 reads it he must find it rather perplexing as no 
 place is mentioned. A city is repeatedly re- 
 ferred to but that is carefully left out. Think 
 of these men, with secret design, visiting the old 
 city of Salem looking for buried treasures under 
 direction of a revelation ! Of course they found 
 no treasure there though Smith's revelation 
 gave them the promise of the Almighty that they 
 would. The city did not fall into their hands, 
 nor did they obtain its gold and silver as prom- 
 ised. 
 
 Perhaps not two per cent of the Mormons of 
 all branches know anything about this and 
 many other revelations. The false and decep- 
 tive character of the whole religious system ap- 
 pears when such facts are uncovered. 
 
 Time and space only permit the briefest 
 treatment of this important matter here. There 
 is much more evidence of this character that 
 might easily be produced. 
 
 ^"Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 822. 
 
 "*"" Doctrine and Covenants," (U), sec. III. 
 
114 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 Every Mormon, regardless of the restraints 
 of the Mormon Priesthood, should not rest con- 
 tent until he knows the facts, not from the 
 mouths of the living oracles (the Priesthood) 
 but from the old musty pages of original Mor- 
 mon documents. 
 
 Note. — Recently, one of the Mormon leaders gave this 
 definition of a prophet : " A prophet is a man who expects to 
 see his ideals realized." 
 
 The Mormon prophets have, in time past, been quite suc- 
 cessful in enlisting the splendid energies of the Mormon 
 people in the attempts to put their ideals and schemes across. 
 Some day, let us hope, the Mormon people will get their eyes 
 opened to the false leadership of Mormonism, and will 
 devote their efforts to the Kingdom of God and the ideals of 
 Jesus, and to His ideals alone. 
 
VI 
 
 "THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM" 
 
 THIS sacred book of Mormonism has 
 been freely accepted by the Utah 
 Church as a book of God. The Re- 
 organized Church, while being compelled to 
 recognize it as a genuine production of the 
 Prophet they adore, neither accept nor con- 
 demn it. The historical narrative concerning 
 the origin of the book is as follows : 
 
 **0n the 3rd day of July (1835) Michael H. 
 Chandler came to Kirtland to exhibit some Egyptian 
 Mummies. 
 
 There were four human figures, together with 
 some two or more rolls of papyrus covered with 
 hieroglyphic figures and devices. As Mr. Chandler 
 had been told I could translate them, he brought me 
 some of the characters, and I gave him the interpre- 
 tation, and like a gentleman, he gave me the fol- 
 lowing certificate: — 
 
 'Kirtland, July 6, 1835, 
 
 This is to make known to all who may be de- 
 sirous, concerning the knowledge of Mr. Joseph 
 Smith, Jr., in deciphering the ancient hieroglyphic 
 115 
 
116 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 characters in my possession, which I 'have, in many 
 eminent cities, showed to the most learned ; and from 
 the information that I could ever learn, or meet 
 with, I find that of Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr., to cor- 
 respond in the most minute matters. 
 
 Michael H. Chandler, 
 Travelling with and Proprietor of Egyptian 
 Mummies.' 
 
 . . . Soon after this some of the saints at Kirt- 
 land purchased the mummies and papyrus (a de- 
 scription of which will appear hereafter) and I, with 
 W. W. Phelps and 0. Cowdery as scribes, com- 
 menced the translation of some of the characters or 
 hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one 
 of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham, an- 
 other the writings of Joseph of Egypt, etc., a more 
 full account of which will appear in their place, as 
 I proceed to examine or unfold them. 
 
 Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to re- 
 veal the abundance of peace and truth. ' ' * 
 
 The complete translation of the book to- 
 gether with the fac-similes was published in the 
 official Mormon Paper by the Prophet himself, 
 in the issues of March 1st and 15th and May 
 16, 1842. This paper is called The Times and 
 Seasons. As we have observed, the Utah 
 Church regards this book as a work of inspira- 
 tion. Indeed, it would be inconsistent for them 
 to do otherwise. It is likewise inconsistent for 
 *" Church History," (R), 1:569. 
 
** THE BOOK OF ABE AH AM" 117 
 
 any believer in Smith's supernatural powers to 
 reject this book which is his product as surely 
 as is the " Book of Mormon." In the history 
 published by the Reorganized Church the whole 
 matter is passed over with this statement : 
 
 **The Church has never to our knowledge taken 
 any action on this work, either to endorse or con- 
 demn; so it cannot be said to be a Church publica- 
 tion; nor can the Church be held to answer for the 
 correctness of its teachings. Joseph Smith, as trans- 
 lator is committed of course to the correctness of the 
 translation, but not necessarily to the endorsement 
 of its historical or doctrinal contents." '^ 
 
 This is a clever statement, evidently made for 
 the purpose of diverting the attention of the 
 reader from a deep consideration of the matter. 
 What matters whether the Church takes a vote 
 on the thing or not? If the Church had taken 
 a vote on the " Book of Mormon " would that 
 have determined its truth or falsity? The Re- 
 organized Church would be slow to endorse this 
 book with its polytheistic teachings, and yet, to 
 condemn it would be a serious thing to do, since 
 that would cast an unfavorable reflection upon 
 the Prophet. It should be remembered that 
 Smith claimed to be a divinely appointed Trans- 
 lator, as well as a Prophet. In his translation 
 of the Golden Plates from whence he claimed 
 
 '"'Church History," (R), 2:569. 
 
118 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOBMONISM 
 
 to have made the " Book of Mormon," no one 
 could say whether the translation was correct or 
 not. No scientific examination was ever made 
 of the inscription and comx^arison made with 
 the translation. In the case of the " Book of 
 Abraham," the original inscription and the 
 translation appear together. This gives the 
 linguist an opportunity to determine the cor- 
 rectness of the translation, as well as the ability 
 of the translator. That Smith claimed the 
 translation to be a revelation from God is evi- 
 dent from the statement he makes in connection 
 with the discovery of the mummies and papyrus, 
 " Truly the Lord is beginning to reveal the 
 abundance of peace and truth." In his descrip- 
 tion of some of the characters it clearly appears 
 that he regarded the matter as direct revelation. 
 To quote : 
 
 ''Figure 8. Contains writing that cannot be re- 
 vealed unto the world; but is to be had in the Holy 
 Temple of God. 
 
 Figure 9. Ought not to be revealed at the present 
 time. 
 
 Figure 10. Also. 
 
 Figure 11. Also, — if the world can find out these 
 numbers, So let it be. Amen. 
 
 Figures 12-21 will be given in the own due time 
 of the Lord. The above translation is given as far 
 as we have any right to give, at the present time. ' * 
 
 It will be noted that the translation was 
 
"THE BOOK OF ABEAHAM" 119 
 
 bound up with the ceremonies of the Temple 
 that was being erected at Nauvoo ; that parts of 
 the translation were deferred to be given by 
 revelation at a later time. Accepting the oj)- 
 portunity to give the inspirational powers of 
 Smith, as a translator, a scientific test, the Kt. 
 Kev. F. S. Spalding, Episcopal Bishop of Utah, 
 issued a pamphlet entitled, ^Moseph Smith, Jr., 
 as a Translator,'^ November 1, 1912. 
 
 The Bishop presented to several scholars the 
 copies of the characters together with Smith's 
 translations. We quote from this pamphlet 
 some of the opinions given by Egyptologists con- 
 sulted. The following is from Dr. A. H. Sayce 
 of Oxford : 
 
 *'It is difficult to deal seriously with Joseph 
 Smith's impudent fraud. His fae-simile from the 
 Book of Abraham No. 2, is an ordinary hypoeepha- 
 lus, but like the hieroglyphics have been copied so 
 ignorantly that hardly one of them is correct. I 
 need scarce say that Kolob, etc., are unknown to the 
 Egyptian language. No. 3 is a representation of the 
 goddess Maat leading Pharaoh before Osiris behind 
 whom stands the goddess Isis. Smith has turned the 
 goddess into a king and Osiris into Abraham. ' ' 
 
 Dr. W. M. Flinders Petrie of London Uni- 
 versity says : 
 
 *'To any one with knowledge of the large class of 
 funeral documents, to which these belong, the at- 
 
120 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 tempts to guess a meaning for them, in the professed 
 explanations, are too absurd to be noticed. 
 
 It may be safely said that there is not one single 
 word that is true in these explanations. 
 
 If any one wishes to verify the matter, they have 
 only to ask any of the curators of Egyptian Museums 
 . . . none but the ignorant could possibly be im- 
 posed upon by such ludicrous blunders. ' ' 
 
 Dr. J. H. Breasted, University of Chicago, 
 says: 
 
 *'In 1822 Champollion published the first success- 
 ful steps in the decipherment of Egyptian Hiero- 
 glyphics. It was only very gradually after this that 
 he gained the ability to read the simpler and clearer 
 sentences in the hieroglyphic records. 
 
 Little of the language, comparatively speaking, 
 was understood when he died in 1832. He left in 
 manuscript an elementary grammar, which was pub- 
 lished by the government beginning in 1836 and 
 reaching completion in 1841. 
 
 It would have been impossible for any American 
 scholar to have known enough about Egyptian In- 
 scriptions to read them before the publication of 
 Champollion ^s Grammar . . . 
 
 It will be seen then, that if Joseph Smith could 
 read ancient Egyptian writing, his ability to do so 
 had no connection with the decipherment of hiero- 
 glyphics by European scholars. . . . The three 
 fac-similes in question represent equipment which 
 will be and has been found in unnumbered thou- 
 sands of Egyptian graves. 
 
"THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM »' 121 
 
 Joseph Smith's interpretation of them as a part 
 of a unique revelation through Abraham therefore, 
 very clearly demonstrates that he was wholly un- 
 acquainted with the significance of these documents 
 and absolutely ignorant of the simplest facts of 
 Egyptian writing and civilization. 
 
 Not to repeat it too often, the point I wish to make 
 is, that Joseph Smith represents as portions of a 
 unique revelation through Abraham, things which 
 were common-places and to be found by many thou- 
 sands in the every day life of the Egyptians. 
 
 We orientalists could publish scores of these * Fac- 
 similes taken from the Book of Abraham ' taken 
 from other sources. ' ' 
 
 Dr. Arthur Mace, Metropolitan Museum of 
 Art, New York, says : 
 
 ** Joseph Smithes interpretation of these cuts is a 
 farrago of nonsense from beginning to end. Egyp- 
 tian characters can now be read almost as easily as 
 Greek, and five minutes study in an Egyptian Gal- 
 lery of any Museum should be enough to convince 
 any educated man of the clumsiness of the impos- 
 ture.''" 
 
 Bishop Spalding says of his work : 
 
 **My object in writing the pamphlet was not to 
 
 inform the world that Joseph Smith's translations 
 
 were inaccurate, and that therefore his claim to be 
 
 a Prophet of God was invalid, but try to convince 
 
 ^ These quotations from the pamphlet referred to. 
 
122 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 the Mormons themselves of those facts. The rest of 
 the world has long ago made up its mind. 
 
 Writing and action, which can be described as 
 attack, no more affects the Mormon in his belief than 
 they affected the early Christians in theirs. The 
 value of the pamphlet and the literature which may 
 grow out of it is to be measured entirely by its effect 
 upon the Latter Day Saints. ' ' * 
 
 Upon the publication of the pamphlet it was 
 soon discovered that the Bishop had struck a 
 vital blow. The blow had been wisely aimed at 
 the foundation of Mormon claims and it suc- 
 ceeded in arousing them to defense. The repre- 
 sentatives of the Eeorganized Church took 
 refuge behind the false premise that they had 
 not endorsed the " Book of Abraham." The 
 Utah Church sought to throw discredit upon the 
 scholars, charging them with " unfair reason- 
 ing " and they tried to point out " discrepancies 
 in the testimony of the scholars '^ and asserted 
 that " the scholars disagree." Joseph F. Smith, 
 then President of the Utah Church, concludes 
 the defense by saying : 
 
 *^We believe it clearly shown that this argument, 
 in the first place is misleading if not fallacious ; that 
 the savants consulted may have been prejudiced be- 
 fore hand, and made no real scientific investigation 
 of the translations of the Prophet; that they differ 
 * Christian Herald, January 29, 1913. 
 
'*THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM'^ 123 
 
 from each other in their conclusions; that upon in- 
 vestigation the translation o£ the Prophet agrees 
 with, rather than differs from, the most modern and 
 reliable information that can be obtained; and that 
 therefore Joseph Smith was inspired in the trans- 
 lation of the fac-similes from the *Book of Abra- 
 ham.' ''" 
 
 Most of the Mormons declare that they have 
 a testimony " that Joseph Smith was a Prophet 
 of God/' therefore they will not readily accept 
 any argument tending to overthrow the claims 
 he made for himself. They generally look upon 
 any effort to exi)ose his false positions as 
 malicious persecution. Few of them will con- 
 sider an adverse criticism of their cherished 
 belief. 
 
 No attempt will be made here to reproduce 
 and analyze the contents of this book. It is not 
 worth while to do so. The suggestion that 
 those who are interested visit some museum con- 
 taining exhibits from Egypt and make a com- 
 parison between the fac-similes and the numer- 
 ous duplicates ' is timely, and those who do so 
 will surely be convinced that the Prophet has 
 given the world a sure evidence of his ignorance 
 and also an example of his bold pretentions. 
 
 One of the immediate effects following the 
 
 'Improvement Era, (U), Vol. i6, No. 4, p. 379. 
 ' " Story of the Mormons," by Linn, p. 140^/^. See ex- 
 hibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, 
 
124 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 publication of the translation of this book is to 
 be noted in the following charge made against 
 Smith by some of his devotees : 
 
 ** Inasmuch as they (Joseph and Hyrum Smith) 
 have introduced false and damnable doctrines into 
 the Church, such as plurality of Gods, above the 
 God of this universe, and his liability to fall with 
 all his creations ; the plurality of wives for time and 
 eternity ... we therefore are constrained to 
 denounce them as apostates from the pure and holy 
 doctrines of Jesus Christ. '*' 
 
 The Utah Church has followed the leading of 
 Smith in the matter of belief in many Gods,' as 
 well as many wives. The above charge made by 
 the followers of Smith has been confirmed. 
 
 Is it not very inconsistent for the Reorganized 
 Church to profess belief in Smith as a divinely 
 appointed Translator, then to fail to approve 
 his translation and denounce as apostates those 
 who have done so? 
 
 An impartial investigation of the " Book of 
 Abraham " ought to convince any fair-minded, 
 or unprejudiced person of Christian belief, of 
 the unworthiness of Joseph Smith as a religious 
 leader and of the fraudulent character of Mor- 
 monism. 
 
 '' Nauvoo Expositor, Resolution 2. 
 
 * " Brighamism Exposed," (R), pp. 40-50. 
 
vn 
 
 THE HOLY SCRIPTUEES 
 
 THIS is another sacred book of the Mor- 
 mons, more commonly known as " The 
 Inspired Translation." Smith's rea- 
 son for the giving of a new translation of the 
 Bible was in the form of a charge, as follows : 
 
 *^For behold, they have taken away from the gos- 
 pel of the Lamb, many parts which are plain and 
 most precious ; and also many covenants of the Lord 
 have been taken away . . . That they might 
 blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children 
 of men/'' 
 
 Mr. Sidney Rigdon was actively associated 
 with Smith in the production of this work. A 
 revelation given to him by Smith said : 
 
 **And a commandment I give unto thee, that thou 
 shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be 
 given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the 
 salvation of mine own elect. ' ' ^ 
 
 The object as thus defined by Smith, in giving 
 
 ^ See preface to "The Holy Scriptures," (R). 
 ^"Poctrine and Covenants," (U), 35:20, 
 
 125 
 
^ 
 
 126 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 a new translation of the Bible, was to restore 
 the precious parts which he alleged were taken 
 away and give the Scripture in its pure form. 
 
 The history of the work is as follows : Smith 
 began the work in June, 1830, and finished the 
 same, with the assistance of Mr. Eigdon, in 
 July, 1833.' Smith had fully intended to pub- 
 lish this book but for various reasons it was not 
 printed until several years after his death. 
 
 At his death the manuscript was in the hands 
 of his wife, Emma Smith, with whom it re- 
 mained until 18G6, when it was delivered to a 
 committee of the General Conference of the Ke- 
 organized Church, and published, the first edi- 
 tion appearing in 1867. 
 
 It is a publication of the Eeorganized Church 
 / and has never been recognized as authoritative 
 by the Utah Church. 
 
 As to the method used by Smith in producing 
 this work, the claim is made " that it was done 
 by direct revelation from God."' Smith's 
 method of translation, we have noted in a previ- 
 ous chapter, as indicated in instructions which 
 he gave to Mr. Oliver Cowdery, who had tried 
 the art of translating while acting as a scribe for 
 him. It reads in part : 
 
 *'But, behold I say unto you that you must study 
 
 ""Church History," (R), 1:303. 
 
 •§ee preface of "The Holy Scriptures," (R)", 
 
THE HOLY SCEIPTURES 127 
 
 it out in your mind ; then yon must ask me if it be 
 right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom 
 shall burn within you ; therefore you shall feel that 
 it is right/''* 
 
 y 
 
 Using this method, Smith took the authorized 
 version of the Bible and where he desired to 
 make changes he exercised freedom in doing so. 
 
 While it is called the " Inspired Transla- 
 tion " ^ it is in no sense a translation. Smith y^ 
 did not possess sufficient knowledge of the orig- 
 inal languages to enable him to translate. He 
 did not possess the documents from which to 
 make a translation. The word "translation" 
 used in this connection is a misnomer. 
 
 The changes made by Smith in his transla- 
 tion are mostly verbal and inconsequential. He 
 has exercised the liberty of adding to the text 
 material which would increase his authority 
 and support the pretensions of the new Bible. 
 
 He had little or no knowledge of the history 
 of the Old and the New Testament documents. 
 He does not say, specifically, who it was that 
 was guilty of having taken away " the precious 
 parts " from the Bible. Nor does it appear 
 whose eyes were blinded and whose hearts were 
 hardened by the loss of these things. However, 
 they are all restored in this translation, so we 
 may see what they were. 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (U), 9:8« 
 *Ibid,f p, 440. 
 
128 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 An examination of the book will be ratlier 
 disappointing to any one looking for these 
 treasured things. Those supplied by this new 
 translator are very few and of little conse- 
 quence. Those he has inserted relate to himself 
 and the new religion he was launching and re- 
 flect some of his peculiar beliefs. 
 
 We will note a few outstanding interpolations 
 as found in this new Bible. In Genesis 6 : 53 
 the Lord said to Adam : 
 
 ''If thou wilt return unto me and hearken unto 
 my voice and believe and repent of all thy trans- 
 gressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the 
 name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of 
 grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name 
 which shall be given under heaven, whereby salva- 
 tion shall come to the children of men : and ye shall 
 receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things 
 in His name, and whatsoever ye shall ask it shall be 
 given you." 
 
 Here we have, strange to note, the language 
 of the New Testament interwoven in the first 
 book of the Bible.' 
 
 In verse 67 of the same chapter may be found 
 the following : 
 
 **And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken 
 with Adam our father, that Adam cried unto the 
 Lord, and he was caught away by the spirit of the 
 ' John 1 : 14 ; Acts 4 : 12, 2 : 39. 
 
THE HOLT SCEIPTUEES 129 
 
 Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was 
 laid under the water, and was brought forth out of 
 the water ; and thus he was baptized. ' ' 
 
 The verses in connection with, this narrative 
 indicate that the New Testament record of the 
 Gospel was but a reproduction of spiritual ex- 
 periences beginning with Adam. He was de- 
 clared to be " born of the spirit " and " baptized 
 with fire and with the Holy Ghost." Thus, in- 
 stead of the " beginning of the Gospel of Jesus 
 Christ " being coincident with the coming of 
 John the Baptist, just as Smith's translation 
 elsewhere affirms that it was,^ he locates it as 
 having begun with Adam. But the authority 
 for so doing has no higher source than the 
 thoughts of his mind and the burning in his 
 " bosom " that made him " feel that it is right." 
 
 In the fifth chapter of Genesis we find another 
 interesting interpolation. Smith has expanded 
 the narrative concerning the killing of Abel by 
 Cain, as found in the fourth chapter of Genesis 
 in the authorized version. The murder of Abel 
 is the outcome of the plans of a secret order of 
 which Cain is the " Master Mahan." We read : 
 
 **and it shall be said in time to come that these 
 
 abominations were had from Cain . . . Swear 
 
 unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt 
 
 die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by 
 
 "Mark 1:1-3, Inspired Translation, (R). 
 
130 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell 
 it they shall surely die . . . And Cain saith, 
 Truly I am Mahan, the Master of this great secret, 
 that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain 
 was called Master Mahan; and he gloried in his 
 wickedness. ' ' ^ 
 
 The "Book of Mormon" contains many 
 references to " secret combinations," etc.,'" and 
 denunciations of them as evil. The inspiration 
 that suggested these things to Smith's mind, 
 probably, found its source in the agitations 
 against secret orders in his day and time. 
 
 In the fiftieth chapter of Genesis, Smith has 
 made a very significant addition in the twelve 
 verses he has appended to it. 
 
 One of the " precious things " here restored is 
 a prophecy by Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, 
 concerning the coming of "A choice seer," who 
 is none other than Joseph Smith. 
 
 We read : 
 
 * ' Thus saith the Lord God of my fathers unto me, 
 A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy 
 loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the 
 fruit of thy loins, his brethren ; and unto him will I 
 give commandments that he shall do a work for the 
 fruit of thy loins . . . 
 
 And that seer will I bless and they that seek to 
 
 " Gen. 5 : 10 ff. 
 
 "See reference index to "Book of Mormon," (R). 
 
THE HOLY SCRIPTUEES 131 
 
 destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise 
 I give unto you ; for I will remember you from gen- 
 eration to generation; and his name shall be called 
 Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father ; 
 and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which 
 the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my 
 people unto salvation. ' ' " 
 
 This is almost more than any Mormon wants 
 to accept. That God had Joseph Smith in view 
 so early in the developing life of the world is 
 just what Joseph Smith wanted people to be- 
 lieve. This claim is so astounding that it is 
 almost suf8.cient to make any Mormon stagger 
 with unbelief. The source of inspiration that 
 suggested it would seem to be self -centered. 
 
 As one proceeds with an examination of this 
 work, it would seem that Smith and Eigdon 
 must have grown weary of their task. They 
 have inserted whole books of the authorized 
 version into their inspired translation with 
 little or no change. 
 
 The twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah bears evi- 
 dence of a remarkable interpolation. Smith has 
 added eight verses, one of them containing more 
 than 100 words. In the reference in Genesis 
 Smith supplied a prophecy concerning himself, 
 here he supplies one concerning his famous 
 " three witnesses,^' upon whom he and all Mor- 
 jnons have so securely relied for proof of the 
 
 "Gen, 50:27, 33, Inspired Translation, (R). 
 
132 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 genuine character of the "Book of Mormon." 
 We read : 
 
 **the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, 
 that the eyes of none shall behold it, save it be that 
 three witnesses shall behold it by the power of 
 God, besides him to whom the book shall be deliv- 
 ered '. . . 
 
 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which 
 I have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses 
 which I have promised thee, then thou shalt seal up 
 the book again, and hide it up unto me. ' ' " 
 
 According to this, Isaiah prophesied of 
 Smith's "three witnesses," Messrs. Harris, 
 Cowdery, and Whitnier. All this seems to be 
 in line with Smith's claim, that the twenty- 
 ninth chapter of Isaiah is, in reality, a prophetic 
 declaration of the coming forth of the " Book of 
 Mormon." This the Mormons verily believe, but 
 these additions which Smith has made are 
 enough to arouse grave suspicion of the fraud he 
 was designing. A reinterpretation of the chap- 
 ter might convince the followers of Smith that 
 Isaiah had no such thing in mind."* 
 
 A test of Smith's inspirational powers may 
 be seen in the following illustration. In the 
 "Book of Mormon" he quotes the Lord's 
 Prayer, part of which is here given as follows : 
 
 "Isa. 29: 17, 24, Inspired Translation. 
 "See note. Analysis of Isa. 28-30. 
 
THE HOLY SCEIPTURES 133 
 
 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us 
 from evil.'*" 
 
 This is the exact reproduction of the words as 
 found in the authorized version/' TJie " Book 
 of Mormon " claims to be inspired, but the ren- 
 dering in Smith's Inspired Translation has 
 changed these words as follows : 
 
 **And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but 
 deliver us from evil." " 
 
 Is it not, at least, very strange that the spirit 
 of God would inspire a man to quote the same 
 thing differently in two inspired books? Mod- 
 ern scholarship has not paid the slightest at- 
 tention to this book. 
 
 Note. — An analysis of Isaiah chapters 28-30: 
 
 The 29th Chapter is so devoutly relied upon by the Mor- 
 mons as a proof text for evidence of the " Book of Mor- 
 mon," that we here suggest a review of the preceding and 
 succeeding chapters. Isaiah is standing in the midst of a tur- 
 bulent national situation. Assyria and Egypt are troubling 
 God's people. In these chapters the prophet gives a series 
 of oracles reflecting the historical circumstances of his day. 
 
 28 : 1-6 — Predict the fall of Samaria. 7-22 verses — A 
 controversy with the dissolute politicians of Jerusalem — 
 see verse 14. 23-29 verses— General words of counsel and 
 wisdom. 
 
 29 : 1-8 — The abasement and subsequent deliverance of 
 Jerusalem. 9-14 verses — The spiritual stupidity of the 
 people of Jerusalem. 15-24 verses — Exposure of a con- 
 spiracy with the court of Egypt changing to a prediction of 
 a future deliverance. 
 
 30 : 1-17 — A return to an alliance with the Egyptians vig- 
 
 ""Book of Mormon," (R), p. 639. "Matt. 6: 13. 
 
 "Matt. 6:14, (R), Inspired Translation. 
 
134 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 ^ The greater part of the Mormon people, the 
 whole body of the Utah Church has not been 
 sufficiently impressed with this book to accept 
 it as a guide nor adopt it as authoritative." 
 
 It must be rather embarrassing to this wing 
 J of the Church, in view of the repeated references 
 to the " Inspired Translation '^ found in their 
 official book of " Doctrine and Covenants," that 
 they have refused to accept the book now that 
 it is given." 
 
 What about the prophecy that "my Scrip- 
 tures shall be given as I have appointed, and 
 they shall be preserved in safety "? '^ 
 
 What of the command, " they shall be taught 
 unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peo- 
 ple '^?"^° 
 
 Even the representatives of the Reorganized 
 ^^ Church would rarely venture to quote the por- 
 tions referred to in the preceding pages. They 
 use the Authorized Version of the Scriptures 
 almost exclusively, as it is far more palatable. 
 
 orously denounced by the prophet. 18-26 verses— God's 
 mercies promised to the people notwithstanding their re- 
 bellion. 27-33— Apocalyptic judgments upon Assyria. 
 
 In the light of these facts, so briefly set forth, it is 
 strange indeed that any person should ever have been de- 
 ceived in believing that this chapter — 29th — has the re- 
 motest reference to the " Book of Mormon." 
 
 " Deseret Evening News, February 21, 1900, Linn, p. 71. 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants/' (U), pp. 174, 188, 260, ZZZ* 
 334, 440. 
 ''Ibid., 42: s6, '"Ibid., 42:58. 
 
THE HOLY SCEIPTURES 135 
 
 Here the two wings of Mormonism balance 
 each other in rejecting an inspired book of their 
 Prophet. The Keorganized accepts the Inspired 
 Translation and rejects the "Book of Abra- 
 ham." The Utah Church accepts the " Book of 
 Abraham " and rejects the Inspired Transla- 
 tion. Let us hope that the young and rising 
 generations of the Mormon people will have the 
 judgment and courage of conviction to reject 
 both of these books as well as the Prophet who 
 gave them. 
 
 So much for the sacred books we have men- 
 tioned. There is much more evidence of things 
 *^ wrong " about them than we have presented. 
 
VIII 
 
 MOEMON DOCTEINES 
 
 f I ^HESE doctrines were summarized by 
 Joseph Smith as follows : 
 
 1 
 
 **We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in 
 His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 
 
 We believe that men will be punished for their 
 own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. 
 
 We believe that through the atonement of Christ 
 all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws 
 and ordinances of the gospel. 
 
 We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith 
 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd. Repentance. 3rd. 
 Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. 4th. 
 Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 We believe that a man must be called of God by 
 ^prophecy, and by laying on of hands* by those who 
 are in authority to preach the gospel and administer 
 in the ordinances thereof. 
 
 We believe in the same organization that existed 
 in the primitive Church, viz : apostles, prophets, pas- 
 tors, teachers, evangelists, etc. 
 
 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, reve- 
 lation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. 
 
 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far 
 136 
 
MOEMON DOCTRINES 137 
 
 as it is translated correctly; we also believe the 'Book 
 of Mormon' to be the word of God. 
 
 "We believe that God has revealed, all that he does 
 now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal 
 many great and important things pertaining to the 
 kingdom of God. 
 
 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and 
 in the restoration of the ten tribes. That Zion will 
 be built upon this (American) continent. That 
 Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that 
 the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaic 
 glory. 
 
 We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty 
 God according to the dictates of our conscience, and 
 allow all men the same^ privilege let them worship 
 how, where or what they may. 
 
 We believe in being subject to Kings, Presidents, 
 Eulers, and Magistrates, in obeying, honoring and 
 sustaining the law. 
 
 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevo- 
 lent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men ; indeed 
 we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, 
 *We believe all things we hope all things' we have 
 endured many things and hope to be able to endure 
 all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or 
 of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these 
 things. Respectfully, etc.. 
 
 Joseph Smith. 
 
 j> 1 
 
 At the time this statement was made, the 
 
 * Printed in the Chicago Democrat, March, 1842. Also 
 in Mormon paper, Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, p. 709- 
 
138 THE FOUl^DATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Churcli was under a cloud in Illinois. It had 
 been driven from Ohio into Missouri and from 
 Missouri into Illinois. The violence accom- 
 panying these movements attracted national at- 
 tention and interest. Was this a revival of re- 
 ligious persecution? What do these people be- 
 lieve? The above statement was solicited by 
 Hon. John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago 
 Democrat^ in order that the public might be in- 
 formed. 
 
 Such a statement would seemingly indicate, 
 to those uninformed, that the Mormons were 
 persecuted for holding a simple and harmless 
 religious belief. 
 
 The Mormons were never persecuted for their 
 belief alone. The persecution in every case 
 arose out of the impact of their life upon the 
 life of their Gentile neighbors with whom they 
 were unable to live in peace. 
 
 Both branches of the Mormon Church use 
 this statement as an epitome of the faith. The 
 statement is misleading because we know there 
 are other distinctive doctrines that are held by 
 the Mormons. Some of these doctrines have 
 been illustrated elsewhere in this book. 
 
 Some leading conceptions, shared alike by all 
 Mormons, we may mention here. The doctrine 
 of a complete apostasy of all Christendom from 
 the true faith of Christ is preached in order to 
 lay a foundation for other Mormon claims. 
 
MOEMON DOCTEINES 139 
 
 Many disconnected passages of Scripture are 
 quoted to sustain this contention. Great ad- 
 vantage is taken of the fact that there have been 
 many manifestations of apostasy. Little is said 
 concerning the unbroken history of Christi- 
 anity ; little account is taken of the heroism and 
 chivalry of Christian missionaries; little is 
 known by the Mormons of the marvellous ac- 
 complishments of the modern missionary move- 
 ment; little account is taken of the power in 
 Christianity to purify itself from corrupting in- 
 fluences. Another fundamental doctrine built 
 upon this is the doctrine of the restoration. 
 Since all that pertained to primitive Christi- 
 anity was utterly lost in apostasy, it follows if 
 the true faith be found upon the earth it must 
 be restored. Such is the claim of Mormonism. 
 The Mormon Church is the repository of that 
 faith and Joseph Smith the instrument through 
 which it was brought about. 
 
 Like others, the Mormons believe that salva- 
 tion is mediated through the Church; the 
 Church is the kingdom of God, without it none 
 can be saved. 
 
 The vision which John saw, of an angel flying 
 " in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting 
 Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the 
 earth," ' is taken literally. That angel, so the 
 Mormon Elders claim, came to Joseph Smith 
 
 'Rev. 14:6. 
 
140 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 and delivered the keys of the Kingdom. If 
 Smith himself ever made such a claim it is not 
 clearly in evidence. In the same vision of John 
 there were several other angels to follow but the 
 Mormons have no explanation of that fact. 
 
 The Mormons are inconsistent in charging 
 apostasy upon the Christians in view of the fact 
 that they are hopelessly divided among them- 
 selves. 
 
 Another doctrine that takes its place among 
 the fundamental conceptions of Mormonism is 
 the doctrine of *^*^ present day revelation/^ The 
 Church is to be guided by the voice of the Presi- 
 dent and Prophet. The people may have visions, 
 dreams, prophecies, tongues, etc., but not for 
 the guidance of the Church. The Prophet has 
 reserved the right of control. Under the doc- 
 trine of revelation all the unique things in Mor- 
 monism have come into existence. 
 
 Both branches of Mormonism profess to have 
 the " spiritual gifts '' ; they speak with tongues 
 and prophesy, but each regard the other as 
 false. The belief in revelation has been like a 
 Pandora Box, out of which many evils have 
 come. 
 
 On the other hand, there is very little of prac- 
 tical benefit that has come to the Mormons 
 through this source. The Utah Church has al- 
 most ceased to have a revelation for its guid- 
 ance; it has found that practical genius and 
 
MORMON DOCTRINES 141 
 
 common sense are more profitable to use. 
 Brigham Young gave but one revelation, and 
 that was concerning the organization for the 
 march from Council Bluffs to Utah in 1847.' 
 
 In the proceedings of the Smoot investigation 
 at Washington, President Joseph F. Smith ad- 
 mitted that he had not received any revelations." 
 
 An example of the working of these charis- 
 matic gifts may be seen in the following recent 
 experiences. We quote : 
 
 ** Spiritual manifestations at the Lamoni (Iowa) 
 Stake Reunion." ''The Lord speaks to the people 
 in many ways. 
 
 He is not confined to tongues and prophecies as 
 avenues of communication. He speaks through the 
 inspired sermon, the fervent testimony and the 
 spiritual hymn or anthem. 
 
 And in many other ways. It is reported that the 
 late reunion of the Lamoni Stake was one of the 
 best ever held ... the gift of prophecy or vi- 
 sion being given some seven times. "^ 
 
 The following is a part of a " spiritual com- 
 munication " given at this meeting, at a prayer 
 service held July 31, 1912, through Elder E. M. 
 Elvin. 
 
 ''And unto you my servant George Hilliard, I 
 
 "Doctrine and Covenants," (U), sec. 136. 
 "Brighamism Exposed," (R), p. 208. 
 Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. 59, p. 922. 
 
142 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 have watched over thee all these many years, called 
 thee out of the world, and from the ways of sin, be- 
 cause of the integrity of thy heart; and notwith- 
 standing thou hast offended thy brethren many times 
 by thy plainness of speech thou art forgiven. 
 
 Be steadfast, for in thy trials and thy afflictions 
 and thy difficulties, thy prayers and the prayers of 
 my people have been successful in raising thee up 
 for the work that I have for thee yet to do. 
 
 It has been wisdom in me, it has been my loving 
 kindness for the good of my work that thou shouldst 
 continue yet in the office that thou hast been 
 called to.' '• 
 
 Mr. Hilliard was the first counsellor to the 
 Presiding Bishop of the Eeorganized Church. 
 In the preceding April Conference, because of 
 physical disability, he had asked to be released 
 from service. However, the conference voted 
 to retain him. The above revelation was pub- 
 lished September 25, 1912, and Mr. Hilliard 
 died October 8, 1912.' So the man who gave 
 this revelation made a poor prognostication con- 
 cerning the future of this alBicted man. But 
 he did it and it was accepted as a genuine mani- 
 festation of the " gifts of the spirit." 
 
 In connection with the publication of this 
 revelation the Editor adds: 
 
 ''It is not always wise to publish reports of spiri- 
 
 ' Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. 59, pp. 922-923. 
 'Ibid., Vol. 59, p. 993- 
 
MOEMON DOCTEINES 143 
 
 tual manifestations for at least two reasons. First, 
 tliey are sometimes of a strictly personal nature 
 . . . Second, they are not submitted to the 
 scrutiny of the Quorums of the Church . . . but 
 in this case there seems to be nothing in these mani- 
 festations of such a personal nature that harm will 
 be done by the publication. '' ' 
 
 Had the Editor known that the man who was 
 the subject of this revelation was really going 
 to die in a few days after the publication of the 
 same, doubtless he would have seen the " harm '' 
 and withheld it from the press. 
 
 What about revelations endorsed by the 
 quorums of the Church: Does that guarantee 
 their genuineness? We will cite an interesting 
 example. On April 14, 1914, President Joseph 
 Smith of the Reorganized Church gave the fol- 
 lowing revelation: 
 
 **. . . there came to me the directing voice of 
 Him whose work we are engaged in. Thus saith the 
 spirit to the Church: The time has now come when 
 the necessities of the work require that the servants 
 of the Church, Bishops Edwin A. Blakeslee and Ed- 
 mund L. Kelley should be more closely associated in 
 carrying on the financial affairs of the Church. 
 
 The spirit saith further : That it is expedient that 
 additional aid be given to the bishopric in charge of 
 the general affairs of the finances and to do this 
 ^Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. 59, p. 925. 
 
144 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 Richard C. Kelley, son of my servant Bishop Ed- 
 mund L. Kelley should be called and ordained.'' 
 
 Upon the presentation of this revelation the 
 quorums met to pass upon it. Most of them 
 voted to endorse it as a " Revelation of tlie will 
 of God." However, in a mass meeting of the 
 Elders, five of them were " permitted to with- 
 hold their vote either for or against." If a suf- 
 ficient number had refused to endorse tlie revela- 
 tion, the supposition is that it would not liave 
 been considered as genuine.^ 
 
 Tlie reception of a revelation is always an 
 occasion of joy to the Saints. They feel that the 
 Lord has set things right for them. They boast 
 of the great advantage of their belief in present 
 day revelation in this form. 
 
 At the close of the year succeeding the giving 
 of this revelation, Bishop Kelley reported that 
 Mr. Blakeslee had been "able to increase his 
 help in the work " ; that the other man named 
 in the revelation, Mr. R. C. Kelley, " gave valu- 
 able assistance in the office," but, being in debt, 
 left to do work in other pursuits." 
 
 At this conference (1915) it was voted, upon 
 a report offered by the leading quorums of the 
 Church, that Bishop Kelley be honorably re- 
 leased from his work. The principal reason 
 
 "Conference Minutes, 1914, (R), pp. 1917-1922. 
 "/tirf., 1915, 2033. 
 
MOEMON DOCTEINES 145 
 
 given was, "WKereas the Presiding Bishop is 
 now past seventy years of age, and owing to the 
 enormous increase in the extent and burden of 
 the work in his department and probable in- 
 crease of this work." 
 
 Is it not strange that human wisdom should 
 thus supersede the purported divine wisdom in 
 this matter? The revelation declared that the 
 ^^ time has now come " when these men were to 
 do so and so ; after only one year the whole plan 
 has utterly broken down. 
 
 But more revelations of the kind are easily 
 obtained. President Joseph Smith having died, 
 a new Prophet, Frederick M. Smith, appears 
 and unwittingly indicates the source of the in- 
 spiration by which Mormon Prophets are guided 
 by saying, ^'At the time of the conference of 
 1915, 1 was not prepared to name the successor 
 to Bishop Kelley." 
 
 On April 5, 1916, he gave his first revelation 
 to the Church, in which he says, '' I am there- 
 fore now prepared to say that the voice of the 
 spirit to me is that Bishop E. L. Kelley should 
 be released from the responsibilities of Presid- 
 ing Bishop. , . . Let Benjamin R. McGuire 
 be set apart and ordained Presiding Bishop of 
 the Church." " 
 
 The Church, led on by its quorums, endorsed 
 
 ^^ Saints' Herald, (R), published at Lamoni, la., Vol. 63, 
 p. 373. 
 
146 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 this revelation at once. The record of these 
 revelations will make rather doubtful reading 
 for the faithful in time to come, and it will be 
 rather difficult to see wherein this revelation 
 method has any advantage over any ordinary 
 Church council that lays no claim to revelation 
 of that sort. 
 
 This first revelation given by the new Prophet 
 contains so much by way of explanation and 
 ordinary matter, that the Church had to take 
 action to separate the divine element from the 
 secular, as it appears in the document. 
 
 ''Moved, that we approve the document presented 
 by President Fred'k M. Smith, and endorse as reve- 
 lation that portion which contains instruction by 
 voice of the Holy Spirit to the Church.'' " 
 
 A cursory glance at all Mormon revelations 
 will clearly reveal their predominating human 
 character. Inasmuch as the Mormon idea of 
 authoritative revelation concentrates the power 
 of reception in one man, if that man be a good 
 man, or evil, the revelation will bear the reflec- 
 tion of his thoughts and ideals. It was only 
 under such a pretext that polygamy could ever 
 have come in our enlightened United States. 
 
 Another fundamental doctrine accepted by all 
 Mormons is that of the near ending of the world. 
 Out of this conception came the name " Latter 
 "^Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. 63, p. 373- 
 
MOEMON DOCTRINES 147 
 
 Day Saints/' The Mormons believe they are 
 living in the " latter " days ; the days near the 
 end of all things. According to their numerous 
 calculations that ending should have come long 
 since. 
 
 At the time of the development of Mormonism 
 many Christians were deeply moved by agita- 
 tion along such lines. Mormonism has used the 
 various arguments in support of such theories, 
 with telling advantage to itself. 
 
 The doctrine of tithing is accepted by all 
 Mormons as the proper method for the financing 
 of the Church. Their revelations declare this 
 to be " a day for the tithing of my people ; for 
 he that is tithed shall not be burned."" The 
 observance of this doctrine has brought vast 
 wealth to the treasury of the Church. 
 
 The doctrine of the entire consecration of 
 one's property is found in the teachings of Mor- 
 monism. Every faithful Mormon is supposed 
 to make an inventory of his possessions and lay 
 it before the bishop of the Church. This prop- 
 erty, or such portions of it as the bishop may see 
 fit to take, is at the command of the Church." 
 
 At the time Smith made the statement at the 
 beginning of this chapter he was formulating 
 the doctrine of baptism for the dead. All Mor- 
 mons believe this doctrine but only the Utah 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 64:5. 
 '* Ibid,, 42 : 8, 9. 
 
148 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Mormons practice it. Smith, declared tliat those 
 who reject it do so at the peril of their own sal- 
 vation. The Keorganized Church is waiting for 
 a commandment from the Lord to resume its 
 practice. 
 
 All Mormons believe in patriarclial blessings; 
 that is, the patriarch lays his hands upon those 
 who desire and pronounces blessings upon their 
 heads. He points out their lineage, indicating 
 that they belong to such and such a tribe ; most 
 of the people are told that they belong to the 
 tribe of Ephraim. The fees desired for this 
 service have been the cause of some unsavory 
 criticism. 
 
 The epitome says nothing of the fact that 
 every faithful Utah Mormon wears upon his 
 body an undergarment, received in the Endow- 
 ment House, into the fabric of which is woven 
 colored figures that only a Mormon can in- 
 terpret. 
 
 While it is stated that the Mormons believe 
 " in God the Eternal Father," it is a well-known 
 fact that the Utah Mormons believe in a plu- 
 rality of Gods. It is also true that the Prophet 
 Joseph Smith was charged with having taught 
 this doctrine at Nauvoo. 
 
 Nothing is said about the doctrine of plu- 
 rality of wives that so distinguishes Mormonism. 
 The Keorganized Church does not accept this 
 doctrine. Their rejection of it is not consistent 
 
MOEMON DOCTEINES 149 
 
 with their acceptance of the claims of Joseph 
 Smith as a Prophet, for he is the author of the 
 doctrine. 
 
 The Utah Mormons claim that since 1890 they 
 have abandoned polygamy and they have suc- 
 ceeded in getting many people to believe their 
 assertions that it is a " dead issue." 
 
 The following is in evidence : Concerning the 
 recent death of Joseph F. Smith, late President 
 of the Mormon Church, a newspaper account 
 says: 
 
 ''Altho he was an avowed polygamist for many 
 years, the late President of the Mormon Church 
 changed his views latterly, and left a sick bed last 
 October (1918) to attend a semiannual conference 
 held in the Temple at Salt Lake City, and denounced 
 the members of the church who had taken more 
 
 THAN ONE WIFE RECENTLY AND KEPT THE MARRIAGES 
 
 SECRET. ' ' " 
 
 It will be difficult to stop the practice of a 
 doctrine that is so generally accepted. Every 
 orthodox Mormon believes in polygamy as a 
 divine principle. The younger element of the 
 Mormons defend the doctrine very ardently. It 
 is taught in their text books and circulated 
 through the mails. It looks like the above 
 statement was made designedly, wherein it says 
 that Joseph F. Smith, polygamist, " changed 
 
 15 Literary Digest, December 7, 1918. 
 
150 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 his views latterly/' for he had been married six 
 times and was survived by ^\e wives and forty- 
 three children and ninety-one grandchildren. 
 His successor, Heber J. Grant, is also a polyga- 
 mist in faith and practice. 
 
 The polygamous revelation in which they all 
 believe says, " No one can reject this covenant 
 and be permitted to enter into my glory . . . 
 those who have this law revealed unto them 
 must obey the same." " 
 
 The policy of all Mormons is to preach *' first 
 principles " to the world which seem harmless 
 enough but the wicked and dangerous elements 
 come along gradually after the convert is well 
 initiated into the system. 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants/' (U), sec. 132. 
 
IX 
 
 MORMON ORGANIZATION 
 
 MORMONISM is far famed for its ex- 
 tensive and efO-cient organization. 
 The following will indicate the ex- 
 tensiveness : 
 
 ''There are in the Church two priesthoods; 
 namely: The Melchisedec, and the Aaronie, includ- 
 ing the Levitical priesthood. ' ' ' 
 
 ' ' There are twenty separate offices, requiring just 
 so many separate and distinct ordinations in both 
 orders of the priesthood . . . These officers are 
 as follows: 
 
 The President. 
 
 Counsellors to President. 
 
 The twelve Apostles. 
 
 The Seventy. 
 
 The Seven Presidents of Seventy. 
 
 The Patriarch. 
 
 Evangelical Ministers. 
 
 High Priests. 
 
 Elders. 
 
 Bishops. 
 
 Bishops' Counsellors. 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 164:1. 
 151 
 
152 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMOKISM 
 
 High Council. 
 
 Stake Council. 
 
 Stake Presidents. 
 
 Counsellors to Stake Presidents. 
 
 Presidents of Quorums. 
 
 Counsellors to Presidents of Quorums. 
 
 Priests. 
 
 Teachers. 
 
 Deacons.'*'* 
 
 Nearly every male member of the Mormon 
 Church holds one or more of the many offices in 
 the priesthood. All of the many offices are in 
 direct relation to the chief Prophet or President 
 of the Church. All the offices above that of the 
 Priest belong to the Melchisedec order. The 
 lesser order, the Aaronic, is composed of 
 Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons. The 
 Priesthood is otherwise divided in two divisions 
 known as the Foreign Ministry and the Home 
 Ministry. The former consisting of Apostles, 
 Seventies and Elders; the latter consisting of 
 High Priests and Elders and all the officers of 
 the lesser priesthood. The Bishopric, beside 
 the duty of presiding over the Aaronic Priest- 
 hood, has jurisdiction over the temporal affairs 
 of the Church, the collection of tithes, super- 
 
 NoTE.— There are several "stakes" in Utah and vicinity. 
 Lamoni, Iowa, and Independence, Mo., are the leading 
 " stakes " of the Reorganized Church. 
 
 ' " Exegesis of the Priesthood," (R), by Griffiths, p. 86. 
 
MOEMON OEGANIZATION 153 
 
 vision of property, distribution of goods, etc. 
 A Stake is a territorial division of the Church, 
 presided over by a High Priest. There are vari- 
 ous auxiliary organizations, as the Belief So- 
 cieties, Zion's Eeligio-Literary Society, Young 
 Men's and Young Women's Mutual Improve- 
 ment Associations, Sabbath Schools, etc. The 
 Mormons are great propagandists, the idea be- 
 ing inculcated in them from childhood. A 
 recent report says the Mormon Church is 
 '' stronger in point of membership, wealth and 
 geographical extension than it has ever been 
 before.'' ' In 1902 an official report was made 
 showing that of the Mormon membership 36,745 
 are listed as belonging to some grade of the 
 Melchisedec Priesthood and 25,700 belonging to 
 the Aaronic Priesthood.* These figures repre- 
 sent the Utah Church enrollment. The Ke- 
 organized Church has a much less number, only 
 about 5,400 being listed as ministers." 
 
 The majority of converts to Mormonism are 
 those who have been identified with some evan- 
 gelical Church. The Mormon missionary finds 
 it easy to make an appeal to people of visionary 
 temperament, those who believe in signs, dreams, 
 spirits, etc. They are often able to draw upon 
 the sympathies of the people by relating their 
 
 ^Literary Digest, December 7, 1918. 
 
 * " Mormonism— The Islam of America," by Kinney, p. 77. 
 
 'Conference Minutes, 1915, (R), p. 1963. 
 
154 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 side of the stories of persecution and sufferings 
 in consequence of their missions. They ridicule 
 the ordinary method of Church finance, telling 
 the people how the preachers are fleecing their 
 flocks, preaching for hire, etc., but are careful 
 to withhold the Mormon system of tithing and 
 entire consecration of all one's property, until 
 the convert is safely landed within the fold. 
 
 The missionary makes a fruitful appeal to 
 that class in Protestantism who are prone to 
 dissatisfaction. Polygamy as a doctrine ap- 
 peals to the sensual minded. To the covetous 
 there is the appeal of special financial and 
 temporal advantage, as the Mormons are repre- 
 sented as being prosperous in this world's 
 goods. Another strong appeal is made to that 
 class of men who are looking for positions of 
 honor — ^the Mormon system of priesthood holds 
 up the prospect of ecclesiastical position and 
 advancement. These positions are dealt out to 
 those who are in the favor of the leading men 
 of the Church. 
 
 The aims of the Mormon organization are not 
 confined to ecclesiastical lines alone; the or- 
 ganization from that point of view would not 
 have attracted the attention of the world as it 
 has. In addition there is the matter of its en- 
 gagement in temporal pursuits — in the material 
 things of the world, so that the Church has be- 
 come very wealthy. Its officers are holding 
 
MOEMON OEGANIZATION 155 
 
 large properties, which have come into the 
 possession of the Church by the Tithes and Con- 
 secrations of the people. The anti-Mormon 
 public is beginning to ask if the Mormon Church 
 is not a gigantic " Trust ^' and as such in viola- 
 tion of the law.' 
 
 There have been scandals, within and without 
 the Church, over the matter of its connection 
 with temporal affairs from the very beginning of 
 its history to the present time. The spiritual 
 leaders of Mormonism have ever taken care to 
 keep in close touch and control of financial 
 matters. The organization is not a wealth dis- 
 tributing institution but has been wonderfully 
 successful in collecting wealth, the disposition 
 of which is concentrated in the hands of a few 
 officials. 
 
 Another effect of the Mormon organization is 
 its influence in political circles. The political 
 power of the Church has been one thing with 
 which the United States Government has had 
 to reckon in not a few instances. In Mormon- 
 ism we have a great ecclesiastical, temporal, 
 and political government within the national 
 government. It is openly asserted that the 
 Mormon Church holds the balance of power in 
 several of the western states. It is compara- 
 tively easy for the Church to throw its votes in 
 favor of any person, or persons, whom it may 
 
 '"Mormonism — The Islam of America," p. 88. 
 
156 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 desire to have elected to high positions in state 
 or national government. Joseph F. Smith, late 
 President of the Utah Church, was regarded as 
 a political boss. The Reorganized Church has 
 never been able to attain sufficient numerical 
 strength to attract attention politically. Its 
 whole system of government, however, is the 
 same as that of the Utah Church in a modified 
 form. The political aspirations of the Mormon 
 Church began very early in its history. Joseph 
 Smith, its founder and chief Prophet, intro- 
 duced a kingly form of government, having him- 
 self ordained as King, to reign over the house 
 of Israel forever.' 
 
 At the time of his death he was running for 
 the presidency of the United States, with his 
 colleague, Sidney Rigdon, aspiring to be vice 
 president.^ 
 
 Smith had called in practically every one who 
 was out as a missionary, or a preacher in the 
 Church, and had sent them forth to stmnp the 
 country for him. At the same time he was the 
 Mayor of the City of Nauvoo, Judge of the 
 Municipal Court, and Lieutcnant-General of the 
 Mormon Army. His colleague, Rigdon, was 
 postmaster in this city of the Saints. 
 
 The unseating of Mr. Roberts, a Mormon 
 Apostle, from the Congress of the United 
 
 ^Saints' Herald, Vol. 51, No. 4, statement of Wm. Marks. 
 ^Nauvoo Neighbor, June 26, 1844. 
 
MOEMON OEGANIZATION 157 
 
 States, and the recent attempt to unseat Senator 
 Keed Smoot, another Mormon Apostle, together 
 with the Congressional investigation of the 
 whole question, have brought the political 
 phases of the Mormon Church clearly before the 
 world. 
 
 In the State of Illinois, before there was any 
 dissention in the Mormon Church, because of 
 the conduct of the Church a neighboring Gen- 
 tile newspaper inquires of the citizens : 
 
 **If it comes to this, that Joe Smith is to control 
 the number of votes in our county, are we not, in 
 effect, the subjects of a despot? Might we not as 
 well be serfs to the autocrat of Russia? What need 
 have we of the elective franchise when a Church can 
 rise up in our midst controlled by the magic of one 
 to dispense political favors/'' 
 
 The leading aim and tendency of all branches 
 of the Mormon Church is to colonize, to do all 
 substantial and constructive work within the 
 gathering places. The organization of the 
 Church is suited to this aim. 
 
 Mr. A. L. Thomas, once Governor of Utah, 
 said: 
 
 *'The instinctive love of country which is the dis- 
 tinguishing characteristic of the American people 
 does not find a responsive sentiment in Utah. 
 
 'Warsaw Illinois Signal, June 9, 1841, 
 
158 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 The orthodox Mormon, in every political and busi- 
 ness act, puts the Church first, country afterward. 
 
 It cannot be otherwise, for the priesthood claims 
 all government but its own to be illegal, and claims 
 a separate political destiny and ultimate temporal 
 dominion, and by divine right. ' ' " 
 
 Concerning the power and influence of the 
 Mormon Church, Dr. Bruce Kinney has said : 
 
 ** Considering their numbers, no other body of 
 people in the world exerts so great an influence upon 
 the realm of which it is a part . . . because of 
 their numbers, organization, solidarity, fanaticism 
 and unpatriotic political intentions, they constitute 
 the gravest menace to our American and Christian 
 institutions.''" 
 
 As we thus compare the Mormon organiza- 
 tion, which the Mormons have asserted to be the 
 same as that of the primitive Christian Church, 
 we find there is a vast difference in purpose, 
 plan, and simplicity. 
 
 Note. — The membership of the Mormon Church now 
 numbers, approximately, 600,000. Of _ this number about 
 100,000 are identified with the Reorg^anized Church. In the 
 period of twenty-five years between 1890 and 1915, the 
 Mormon Church gained in membership 230,875. — World 
 Almanac, 1918. 
 
 Note. — Enquiry of the Information Bureau of The Chris- 
 tian Herald, brought the following reply from Mr. Frederic 
 J. Haskin, Director, regarding present Mormon statistics: 
 " There is no data obtainable as to the increase in member- 
 
 " The Watchman-Examiner, Vol. 9s, No. 41. Article. 
 ''Ibid, 
 
MORMOK OEGANIZATION 159 
 
 ship of late years, great secrecy being observed in this 
 matter." Why is it kept secret unless for some insidious 
 purpose? 
 
 The Reorganized wing published their statistics and in 
 1895 numbered 32,889 members. In 1919 they report 90,825 
 meml)ers which shows substantial growth. The total assets 
 of this body amounted to $343,213.82 in 1912, and in 1919 
 they are reported as $2,329,419.21. 
 
 It is asserted that previous to the war " about seven or 
 eight hundred Mormon converts, mostly women, pass through 
 the port of Boston annually." 
 
 It is also said that the amount received in tithing and 
 consecrations, by the President of the Mormon Church in 
 Utah, is $4,000,000 annually. With that he does as he may 
 please, and he was pleased to build a large Mormon Church 
 in Brooklyn, N. Y., for one thing, in 1918. 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 
 
 IN the teacliing of Mormonism, Missouri is 
 the "Land of Promise."' It was there 
 that they hoped to establish Zion, the New 
 Jerusalem, the City of God. They made at- 
 tempts to gather within the State at Independ- 
 ence, and also at Far West. From both these 
 places they were driven out by drastic methods. 
 Because of this there was always a feeling on 
 the part of the Mormons against the people of 
 the State. After the Mormons settled in Illi- 
 nois, its leaders were wanted by the authori- 
 ties of the State of Missouri, to answer to sev- 
 eral charges which had been lodged against 
 them and on which they were awaiting trial in 
 jail when they made their escape. However, 
 the authorities of the State of Missouri were 
 never able to succeed in capturing these men. 
 But why did Missouri persecute the Mormons? 
 Was the State guilty of the sin of religious per- 
 secution? The Mormons had spread abroad the 
 report that they were victims of injustice and 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 57:2. 
 160 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 161 
 
 religious intolerance, and tliat, too, in a pro- 
 fessed Christian land. In order to answer these 
 charges and explain the attitude of the State, 
 and that the facts might be known, the State 
 Legislature, in 1841, upon the recommendation 
 of the Governor, ordered printed a document, 
 " Containing the Correspondence, Orders, etc., 
 in relation to the disturbances with the Mor- 
 mons, and the evidence given before the Fifth 
 Judicial Circuit Court at Richmond, in a trial 
 of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others for high treason 
 and other crimes against the State, November 
 12, 1838." ' 
 
 Copies of this document are rare, but the 
 matter set forth is of vital interest to every 
 person who desires information with regard to 
 the history of Mormonism. The evidence given 
 was that which came principally from those 
 who had been Mormons, many of them holding 
 high office in the Church. This evidence shows 
 the inner character of the movement and how 
 it was that such a body of people could not be 
 tolerated in a land of equal rights and privi- 
 leges. Quoting from this document we notice 
 
 Note. — The Mormons have boasted the assertion that 
 Smith, though arrested many times, was, in most cases, en- 
 tirely absolved from all charges. In the instance cited above 
 he was never brought to final trial. In other instances 
 charges made by his accusers were dismissed by courts 
 whose officers were Mormons, 
 
 'A copy is in the New York City Public I^ibrary. 
 
162 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 the testimony of Mr. Thomas B. Marsh, who 
 was President of the Twelve Apostles. He 
 testified before this court as follows : 
 
 * ' They have among them a company consisting of 
 all that are considered true Mormons, called the Dan- 
 ites, who have taken an oath to support the heads 
 of the church in all things that they say or do, 
 whether right or wrong ; many however, of this band 
 are much dissatisfied with this oath as being against 
 moral and religious principles. On Saturday last 
 I am informed by the Mormons that they had a 
 meeting at Far West at which they appointed a 
 Company, for the purpose of burning and destroy- 
 ing ; . . . This burning was to be done secretly 
 by going as incendiaries. At the same meeting, I was 
 told, that no Mormon dissenter should leave Cald- 
 well County alive ; and that such as attempted to do 
 it should be shot down . . . The plan of said 
 Smith, the Prophet, is to take this State and he pro- 
 fesses to his people to intend taking the United 
 States, and ultimately the whole world ... I 
 have heard the Prophet say that he would yet tread 
 down his enemies and walk over their dead bodies; 
 that if he was not let alone he would be a second 
 Mahomet to this generation, and that he would make 
 it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to 
 the Atlantic Ocean . . . So it should be even- 
 tually with us, * Joseph Smith, or the sword.' '* 
 
 Following this statement appears the state- 
 ment of Orson Hyde, another one of the famous 
 **Apostles," who says : 
 
MISSOURI'S DEFENSB 1(5S 
 
 ''The most of the itatementg in the foregoing dis- 
 closure of Thomas B. Marsh, I know to be true, the 
 remainder I believe to be true. ' ' 
 
 These statements were subscribed and sworn 
 to October 24, 1838. Mr. John Whitmer, one 
 of the famous "witnesses" to the "Book of 
 Mormon," testified in part : 
 
 *' About the 17th of April last, at a meeting of 
 perhaps twenty-five, in Far West, Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 spoke in reference to difficulties they had and their 
 persecutions, and etc., in and out of the church. Mr. 
 Smith said in the future he did not intend to have 
 any process served on him, and the officer who at- 
 tempted it should die; that any person who spoke 
 or acted against the Presidency or the Church should 
 leave the Country or die." 
 
 Mr. John Cleminson testified, in part, as 
 follows : 
 
 *'When process was filed against Joseph Smith 
 and others in my office as Clerk of Caldwell Circuit 
 Court, for trespass, Joseph Smith, Jr., told me not 
 to issue that writ, that he did not intend to submit 
 to it; . . . That he would not suffer it to be 
 issued ; and I felt myself intimidated and in danger, 
 if I issued it, knowing the regulations of the Danite 
 Band. ... I went in the expedition to Daviess 
 County in which Gallatin was burned as I felt my- 
 self compelled to go/' 
 
164 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Samson Avard, who was known as a leader 
 of the Danite Band, gave his testimony as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 '* About four months ago, a band, called the 
 Daughter of Zion was formed by the members of the 
 Mormon Church, the original object of which was to 
 drive from the County of Caldwell all those who 
 dissented from the Mormon Church; in which they 
 succeeded admirably, and to the satisfaction of those 
 concerned. I considered Joseph Smith, Jr., as the 
 prime mover and organizer of this Danite Band. 
 The officers of the band, according to their grades 
 were brought before him, at a school house, together 
 with Hyrum Smith and Sydney Rigdon; the three 
 composing the First Presidency of the whole Church. 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., blessed them and prophesied over 
 them; declaring that they should be the means, in 
 the hands of God, of bringing forth the millennial 
 kingdom. It was stated by Joseph Smith, Jr., that 
 it was necessary that this Band should be bound to- 
 gether, by a covenant, that those who revealed the 
 secrets of the society should be put to death/ ^ 
 
 Mr. John Corrill, who had been a prominent 
 Bishop of the Church but left it soon after these 
 iniquities became known, wrote a book in which 
 he gave his reasons for renouncing Mormonism. 
 He testified as follows : 
 
 '*I was afterwards invited to one of these meet- 
 ings, where an oath, in substance the same as testi- 
 fied by Dr. Avard, was administered. ... At a 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 166 
 
 second or last meeting I attended, the Presidency, 
 (to-wit: Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith and Sid- 
 ney Rigdon,) and also George W. Robinson was 
 there. There was at this meeting a ceremony of in- 
 troducing the officers of the Society to the Presi- 
 dency, who pronounced blessings on each of them. 
 . . . Joseph Smith, Jr., said, if the people would 
 let us alone, we would preach the gospel to them in 
 peace, but if they come on us to molest us, we would 
 establish our religion by the sword, and that he 
 would become to this generation a second Mahomet. ' * 
 
 Mr. W. W. Phelps, a prominent Mormon but 
 who was now numbered with the dissenters, 
 testified, in part, as follows : 
 
 **I heard D. W. Patton, say that Rigdon was writ- 
 ing a declaration to declare the Church independent. 
 I remarked to him I thought such a thing treason- 
 able — to set up a Government within a Government 
 . . . I was invited to a school house where I was 
 admitted. The men being paraded before the door 
 when I arrived in number 40 or 50. It was re- 
 marked that these were true men ... a guard 
 was placed around the house . . . Mr. Rigdon 
 then commenced making covenants with uplifted 
 hands. The first was that if any man attempted to 
 move out of the County or pack things for that pur- 
 pose, that any man in the house, seeing this without 
 saying anything to any other person, should kill 
 him and haul him aside into the brush and that all 
 the burial he should have should be in a Turkey 
 Buzzard's guts.'' 
 
166 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 This Mr. Phelps, after a few years, returned 
 to the Church at Nauvoo, was duly j)ardoned 
 and later went to Utah where, it is said, he 
 played the part of the " Devil " in the secret 
 endowment house ceremonies. Mr. G. M. 
 Hinlde, Reed Peck and others gave corroborat- 
 ing testimony in connection with the above. 
 
 After Joseph Smith and others had been ap- 
 prehended and placed in jail awaiting trial, he 
 denounced those who had testified against him 
 and revealed the secrets of this band, as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 **In fine we have waded through an ocean of trib- 
 ulation and mean abuse practiced upon us by the ill- 
 bred and the ignorant, such as Hinkle, Corrill, 
 Phelps, Avard, Reed Peck, Cleminson and various 
 others, who are so very ignorant, that they cannot 
 appear respectable in any decent civilized society, 
 and whose eyes are full of adultery and cannot 
 cease from sin. Such characters as McLellin, John 
 Whitmer, D. Whitmer, 0. Cowdery and Martin 
 Harris are too mean to mention and we had liked to 
 have forgotten them. Marsh and another whose 
 hearts are full of corruption . . . Therefore, we 
 say unto you, dear brethren in the Name of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, we deliver these characters unto the 
 buffetings of Satan, until the day of redemption, 
 that they may be dealt with according to their 
 works. ' ' ' 
 
 * Millennial Star, Vol. i6, pp. 626, 628. 
 
MISSOUErS DEFENSE 167 
 
 It will be noticed that among these men whom 
 the Prophet condemns so bitterly are the ones 
 who had figured so prominently in the whole 
 scheme of Mormonism. Here are the names of 
 the famous " three witnesses " to the " Book of 
 Mormon/' also Bishops and Apostles. These 
 men had given away the secrets that brought 
 about the charge of " high treason." 
 
 In this same connection we quote from a 
 
 Note.— Justus Morse, who had been a member of the 
 Mormon Church under the first Prophet and later was 
 identified with the Reorgani;^ed Church, holding the office 
 of High Priest, testified in March, 1887, in part as follows: 
 
 "In the year 1838, at Far West, Caldwell County, Mo., 
 I was made a Danite, in an organized meeting for that 
 purpose in a schoolhouse at that place. Brother Dr. Samp- 
 son Avard had charge in organizing this band, divided into 
 tens, fifties, and hundreds — Joseph Smith, Sydney Rigdon 
 and Hyrum Smith were present frequently at our meetings 
 and were cognizant of what was going on, being present 
 at our secret meetings ... in a deep ravine in the 
 year 1838, aforesaid, and with a guard around us on the 
 high ground to prevent interruption or being heard, was 
 there taught and instructed by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rig- 
 don and Hyrum Smith, that the Church could not advance 
 without means, and we must obtain, must get money and 
 means to carry on the work whether right or wrong, 
 honest or dishonest — that the Church should ' suck the milk 
 of the Gentiles,' that we had been injured by the mob in 
 Missouri, and to take from the Gentiles was no sin. . . . 
 
 In the year 1841 Danite brethren came to my house in 
 McDonough County, Illinois, and asked me to secrete goods 
 which they had taken from a store. ... I still believe 
 that Joseph Smith was called of God." (Quoted from 
 " The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," by Shook, pp. 
 168-171.) 
 
 This proves the existence of the Danite band ; its author- 
 ization by the Prophet and his colleagues; its purpose and 
 criminal character; its continued existence after the Mis- 
 souri experiences — by a man who still retains his faith in 
 Smith as a Prophet. 
 
168 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 document signed by eighty-tliree Mormons at 
 Far West, June, 1838, addressed to Oliver 
 Cowdery, David Whitmer, Jolin Whitmer, 
 William W. Phelps, and Lyman E. Johnson. 
 It reads : 
 
 ''Out of the county you shall go, and no power 
 shall save you. And you shall have three days after 
 you receive this communication . . . But in that 
 time if you do not depart, we will use the means in 
 our own power to cause you to depart; for go you 
 shall. 
 
 . . . Vengeance sleepeth not, neither does it 
 slumber, and unless you heed us this time, and at- 
 tend to our request, it will overtake you as a Lion 
 when you do not expect . . . After Oliver Cow- 
 dery had been taken by a State Warrant for stealing, 
 and the stolen property was found in the house of 
 W. W. Phelps; in which nefarious transaction John 
 Whitmer also participated. . . . We will give 
 an epitome of your scandalous conduct and treach- 
 ery for the last two years. We wish to remind you 
 that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were 
 among the principal of those who were the means of 
 gathering us to this place by their testimony which 
 they gave concerning the plates of the 'Book of 
 Mormon ; ' that they were shown them by an Angel, 
 which testimony we believe now, as much as before 
 you had so scandalously disgraced it . . . 
 
 Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Lyman B. 
 Johnson, united with a gang of counterfeiters, 
 thieves, liars, and black legs of the deepest dye, to 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 169 
 
 deceive, cheat, and defraud the Saints . . . 
 During the full career of Oliver Cowdery and David 
 Whitmer's bogus money business it got abroad in 
 the world that they were engaged in it and several 
 gentlemen were preparing to commence a prosecu- 
 tion against Cowdery, he finding it out took with him 
 Lyman E. Johnson, and fled to Far West with their 
 families ; Cowdery stealing property and bringing it 
 with him." 
 
 The Mormons had made many charges against 
 the Missourians, so the Missourians were an- 
 swering by publishing the charges which the 
 Mormons had made against each other. If it 
 was wrong for the Missourians to drive out the 
 Mormons from their State, because of their 
 treacherous conduct, how about the justice 
 manifest by the Mormons in driving out their 
 own people? 
 
 Here are charges that these Mormons were 
 guilty of statutory crimes ; stealing and counter- 
 feiting. Mr. David Whitmer wrote a booklet in 
 1887, in which he recounts the bitter experience 
 of being driven out of Far West, in June, 1838.* 
 He tells of the secret formation of the band of 
 Danites, Dr. Avard being put in as leader. All 
 Mormon men refusing to be bound by its oaths 
 were considered dissenters. His persecutions, 
 he says, were because of his efforts to persuade 
 his brethren that they were doing wrong. ;Not 
 
 *An address to all believers in Christ. 
 
170 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 only were the Mormons thus complaining of 
 treatment meted out to them by Mormons, but 
 the i)eople of the State were making frantic ap- 
 peals to the Governor for protection from these 
 people. Note the following : 
 
 **I, Philip Covington, an acting Justice of the 
 peace within and for said County, (Daviess) do cer- 
 tify that on the 13th ins't, one hundred or more 
 Mormons marched to Gallatin and drove the citizens 
 from the said place, then robbed the store and Post 
 Office, and burned said store and office. On the 20th, 
 of this instant, twenty-five armed Mormons came to 
 my house, and gave me orders to leave the county 
 against the next morning, or they would be upon me 
 and my family. 
 
 Myself with other citizens have left the county. 
 They are now robbing and burning the dwellings of 
 defenseless citizens. Given under my hand this 22nd 
 day of September, 1838." 
 
 In an old Mormon paper published at Far 
 West about this time, Joseph Smith, the editor, 
 came out with the following threat : 
 
 '*We are absolutely determined no longer to bear, 
 come life or come death, for to be mobbed any more 
 without taking vengeance we will not. ' * ' 
 
 In his revelations Smith had taught, after an 
 enemy should come upon you for three times, 
 
 ' The Blders' Journal, Far West, August, 1838. 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 171 
 
 then lie is delivered into your hands, and "If 
 thou reward him according to his works, thou 
 art justified."' In this way the people could 
 take the justice of their cause in their own 
 hands and mete out treatment in any manner 
 they might elect. Another citizen, Mr. Adam 
 Black, testified : 
 
 **0n the 19th, they (Mormons) marched through 
 the County and drove a number of citizens from the 
 County and robbed their houses and burned them. 
 My house was amongst the rest ; about twelve o^cloek 
 the same night they were seen burning down five 
 houses in Gallatin, the County Seat of Daviess 
 County. 
 
 . . . There is not a single officer left in said 
 County to execute the laws of our land ; and in be- 
 half of the citizens of said County and in my own 
 behalf I ask the executive of the State to be rein- 
 stated in our homes, and the necessary and legal 
 steps be taken to recover our property and bring the 
 offenders to justice. '^ 
 
 In the History of the Mormons, as written 
 by themselves, there is abundant evidence to 
 show that these armed bands who were going 
 about the country threatening the Missourians, 
 
 Note.— It is very common throughout Mormon history to 
 find the word "mob" applied to any persons who were in 
 the least disagreement with the Mormons. 
 
 '"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 95:5. 
 
172 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 etc., were accompanied by Smith, and Avard, 
 and other Mormons of prominence/ 
 
 After the trouble had finally come to an issue 
 and the truth was known, an effort was made to 
 cast the burden of the sin of the Danites upon 
 others than the Church leaders. In the History 
 of the Keorganized Church may be found the 
 following : 
 
 **It was some time before this that the order 
 known as the Danites was organized. This, as will 
 be seen, was not done with the knowledge of the 
 Church authorities, nor by their order. 
 
 It was a secret organization which was severely 
 condemned by the leaders of the Church as soon as 
 it became known to them. The chief instigator was 
 not only reprimanded but he was expelled from the 
 Church, and it was supposed the movement was ef- 
 fectually killed ; but it was in after years revived by 
 wicked and evil designing men and has since been 
 the cause of much evil."* 
 
 An effort was made by Smith to lay the blame 
 wholly upon Dr. Sampson Avard. From the 
 jail in Missouri he wrote as follows : 
 
 ' ' We further caution our brethren against the im- 
 propriety of the organization of bands, or companies 
 by covenants, oaths, penalties or secrecies, but let 
 
 ' Millennial Star, Vol. i6, p. 246. " Church History," 
 (R), 2:185-190. 
 ""Church History," (R), 2:219. 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFE:t^SE 178 
 
 the time past of our experience and suffering by the 
 wickedness of Dr. Avard suffice . . . 
 
 You humble servants intend from henceforth to 
 disapprobate everything that is not in accordance 
 with the f ulhiess of the gospel of Jesus Christ. ' ' " 
 
 He further says : 
 
 **When the knowledge of Avard 's rascality came 
 to the Presidency of the Church, he was cut off from 
 the Church and every means proper was used to 
 destroy his influence ... let it be distinctly 
 understood that these companies of tens, and fifties, 
 got up by Avard, were altogether separate and dis- 
 tinct from those companies of tens and fifties or- 
 ganized by the brethren for self defense . . . 
 Therefore let no one hereafter by mistake or design, 
 confound this organization of the Church for good 
 and righteous purposes with the organization of the 
 Danites, of the apostate Avard, which died almost 
 before it had existence. ' ' " 
 
 These statements are very misleading. They 
 are an apology on the part of the very person 
 guilty. Dr. Avard was expelled from the 
 Church, but when? It was March 17, 1839, 
 several months after these troubles had oc- 
 curred and when most of the Mormons had re- 
 moved from the State." This organization did 
 not die, as asserted, but continued at Nauvoo 
 and later perpetrated the awful Mountain 
 
 *•" Church History," (R), 2:324-325. 
 
 " Ibid., pp. 222-223. " ^^»'^v p. 359* 
 
174 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Meadows Massacre." If there was an organiza- 
 tion apart from that of Avard^s band, it is 
 strange that it did not survive. It is also 
 strange that companies of "tens and fifties" 
 could have been recruited out of the Mormon 
 ranks without the knowledge of the Church 
 leaders. These assertions are all in direct con- 
 flict with the testimony quoted, as given before 
 the court by leading Mormons, which shows that 
 the whole matter was known and fostered by 
 the Church and its leaders. 
 
 But to return to consideration of things in 
 Missouri. The Governor answered the appeal 
 of the people for protection, by ordering a com- 
 pany of militia under Captain S. Bogart, to 
 range the line between Caldwell and Eay Coun- 
 ties to prevent invasions by persons in arms. 
 As his company was encamped on the banks of 
 Crooked Kiver, they were attacked by the Mor- 
 mons under command of Captain Patten. A 
 few men were wounded and killed on either 
 side. However, that was not the significant 
 thing; the fact that the Mormons were in open 
 rebellion to the military forces of the State 
 moved the Governor to drastic action. On 
 October 27, 1838, he issued the famous order of 
 extermination, in which he said, " The Mormons 
 must be treated as enemies, and must be ex- 
 terminated or driven from the State if necessary 
 " ** 3tQry of the Mormons," by I<inn, chap, i6. 
 
MISSOUEI'S DEFENSE 175 
 
 for the public peace — their outrages are beyond 
 all description/' '' 
 
 Shortly after these events the military forces 
 of the State surrounded the Mormons at Far 
 AVest and Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and others 
 of the leaders were delivered up and incarcer- 
 ated in jail to await trial and action of the law. 
 Then began the exodus of the Mormon colony 
 from the State, and crossing the Mississippi 
 they settled in Illinois. Afterward, all the 
 Mormon prisoners succeeded in making their 
 escape. 
 
 To exterminate a people or drive them from 
 the State seemed a cruel thing to do. But the 
 threat came first from the Mormons. Sidney 
 Rigdon, who was appointed to be a " spokes- 
 man '^ " for the people and for Smith, declared 
 in his Fourth of July oration at Far West, July, 
 1838, " It shall be between us and them a war 
 of extermination, for we will follow them till 
 the last drip of their blood is spilled or else 
 they will have to exterminate us." " 
 
 After this speech Joseph Smith, who sat on 
 the platform with Rigdon, led off with a shout 
 of " Hosanna and Amen." In a Mormon paper 
 published there we note in the arrangements 
 for the day the following : 
 
 " Quoted in full by Linn, p. 205. 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 97:3. 
 ""Church History," (R), 2:165. 
 
176 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 *' Fourth. That Jared Carter, Sampson Avard, 
 and Cornelius P. Lott act as Generals, before whom 
 the Military band shall pass in review.*' " 
 
 So it appears that Mr. Avard was in fiill 
 fellowship and accord with the Mormon people 
 at the time and it is difdcult to believe that he 
 ever was out of harmony with the leaders, not- 
 withstanding the assertion to that effect. 
 
 General Clark, after the Mormons had been 
 quelled by military force at Far West, made an 
 address to them, in part as follows : 
 
 **I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so many apparently 
 intelligent men found in the situation you are; and 
 0! if I could invoke the great spirit, the unknown 
 God, to rest upon and deliver you from that awful 
 chain of superstition, and liberate you from those 
 fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound that 
 you no longer do homage to a man. 
 
 I would advise you to scatter abroad and never 
 organize yourselves with Bishops, Presidents, etc., 
 lest you excite the jealousies of the people, and sub- 
 ject yourselves to the same calamities that have now 
 come upon you. You have always been the aggres- 
 sors: you have brought upon yourselves these diffi- 
 culties by being disaffected, and not bemg subject 
 to rule. 
 
 And my advice is that you become as other citi- 
 zens, lest by a reoccurrence of these events you bring 
 upon yourselves irretrievable ruin. ' ' " 
 
 " The Elders* Journal, Vol. i, No. 4, p. 60, published 1838. 
 ""The Story of the Mormons," by linn, pp. 209-210. 
 
MISSOURI'S DEFENSE 177 
 
 From this it would appear that the Mis- 
 sourians were not willing opponents of the Mor- 
 mons. The Missourians were on the ground 
 jSrst. It was their home. Its interests were 
 sacred to them. The Mormons were newcomers. 
 Had they chosen to live in i)eace and obey the 
 laws there would have been no trouble for them. 
 Many Mormons are living in that State now 
 enjoying all the privileges of citizens. Had it 
 not been for their fanatical ideas, the blunder- 
 ing wickedness and ignorance of their leaders, 
 it is highly improbable that the people of Mis- 
 souri would ever have persecuted them, or have 
 driven them from the State. 
 
 Thus it appears that the Mormons would 
 never have been driven from the first settlement 
 at Independence, Missouri, in 1833, had they 
 been willing to settle down and enjoy the com- 
 mon life with other citizens. The following 
 is part of a statement expressing the sentiment 
 of the peoj^le regarding the Mormons who were 
 coming to settle at Independence. It reads : 
 
 '*We are daily told, and not by the ignorant alone, 
 but by all classes of them, that we (The Gentiles) of 
 
 Note. — Interest in the history of the Mormons in Missouri 
 in these early days is indicated by recent articles in The 
 Missouri Historical Review for January, 1919 ff. Here Mr. 
 R. J. Britton writes on, " Early Days on Grand River and the 
 Mormon War." Prof. E. W Violette in his late (1918) 
 "History of Missouri," devotes an illustrated chapter to a 
 similar subject. 
 
178 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 this County are to be cut off, and our lands appro- 
 priated by them for inheritances. Whether this is 
 to be accomplished by the hand of the destroying 
 Angel, the judgments of God, or the arm of power, 
 they are not fully agreed among themselves.*' " 
 
 It would be almost impossible for the citizens 
 to live in peace with a band of religious fanatics 
 harboring such ideas. 
 
 And in the second instance, it would be im- 
 possible for the citizens at Far West and vicin- 
 ity to tolerate the existence of a people having 
 a secret band, committed to depredations upon 
 them and the assassination of apostates from 
 the Church. For drawing the sword in Mis- 
 souri, the Mormons were ousted from the State. 
 
 "Millennial Star, Vol. 14, p. 488. 
 
XI 
 
 GATHERING TO ZION 
 
 THE belief " That Zion will be built upon 
 this Continent'^ is one leading prin- 
 ciple of Mormonism that has been the 
 chief cause of the movements of the Church to 
 several locations. 
 
 The place designated in the revelations of 
 Joseph Smith, as the central gathering place, is 
 Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. He 
 declared, " Wherefore this is the land of prom- 
 ise, and the place for the city of Zion." ' 
 
 The idea of gathering has always met with a 
 ready acceptance on the part of the Mormons. 
 In the nmnerous attempts to gather and estab- 
 lish Zion they have made tremendous sacrifices, 
 even forsaking relatives, friends, and earthly 
 possessions in order to carry out plans offered 
 to them as the will of the Lord. So many pas- 
 sages of Scripture refer to " Zion," the term be- 
 ing so familiar and so closely associated with 
 deep religious sentiment, it has been practically 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 57. 
 179 
 
180 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 easy to inculcate the idea in the minds of all 
 Mormons. 
 
 Because of the social unrest, occasioned by 
 the many industrial problems, the great moral 
 issues and political dissatisfactions, the in- 
 equalities in the distribution of wealth and posi- 
 tion, it has not been difficult to convince minds 
 open to such conviction that there should be 
 some effective solution to our many modern 
 problems. Believing implicitly in the revela- 
 tions of the Prophet, the people were willing to 
 submit to his leadership, hoping thereby to re- 
 ceive the promised inheritance, when all those 
 good things promised in ancient and modern 
 revelation might come to them. 
 
 The utter failure that has followed each at- 
 tempt on the part of Smith, to establish Zion, is 
 an outstanding fact that reflects seriously upon 
 his revelations and his worthiness as a religious 
 leader. 
 
 The fundamental reason for the gathering 
 was based upon the idea that the world is 
 "ripening in iniquity"; that the wicked, all 
 except the Mormons, are awaiting destruction. 
 
 , **It shall come to pass, among the wicked, that 
 / every man that will not take his sword against his 
 J neighbor, must needs flee unto Zion for safety." ' 
 
 Those passages of Scripture that tell of the 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 45. 
 
GATHERING TO ZION 181 
 
 deliverance of the righteous and the destruction 
 of the wicked were freely quoted in this connec- 
 tion. The Lord was not to "spare any that 
 remaineth in Babylon," meaning the Gentiles, 
 or all non-Mormons. Smith interpreted the 
 parable of the " Treasure hid in a field" as 
 follows : 
 
 *^See the Church of the Latter Day Saints, selling 
 all that they have, and gathering themselves to- 
 gether unto a place that they may purchase for an 
 inheritance, that they may be together and bear each 
 others' afflictions in the day of calamity." ^ 
 
 People were much influenced by such inter- 
 petations and revelations and sold out their 
 property, and in accordance with the revelation 
 began to gather out of the " eastern countries " 
 to journey to the " western countries," to Zion, 
 where "a feast of fat things, of wine on the 
 lees well refined " was prepared, " That the 
 earth might know that the mouths of the Proph- 
 ets shall not fail." * 
 
 There being no degree of fellowship between 
 the Mormons and the people of Missouri, it soon 
 began to appear that they could not long sur- 
 vive in close proximity with them. Finally, 
 hostilities broke out in the autumn of the year 
 1833. Many acts of cruelty were committed on 
 
 ^Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 447- 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec 58. 
 
182 THE FOUNDATIOKS OF MORMONISM 
 
 both sides. The Mormons felt that they were 
 justified in defending themselves and the Mis- 
 sourians felt that they must take harsh steps 
 to rid their country of a people who regarded 
 them as enemies, and as wicked people, even be- 
 fore they were acquainted with them. 
 
 The result was that the Mormons hastily 
 gathered up their effects and crossed the Mis- 
 souri Eiver into Clay County. 
 
 Thus, Zion met with a complete defeat that 
 was most distressing. Smith, apparently, was 
 much puzzled for a time, but soon made him- 
 self bold to give a revelation in which he de- 
 clared, " Zion shall not be moved out of her 
 place."" He further declared that the Lord 
 " would let fall the sword of mine indignation in 
 behalf of my people " ; that the people " shall 
 return and come to their inheritances." 
 
 As a result of these and other revelations, 
 Smith formed the army, as mentioned before, at 
 Kirtland, Ohio, where he was at this time, and 
 placing himself at its head marched to Missouri 
 with a view to restoring his people in Jackson 
 County, whither they had been expelled. 
 
 His revelation instructed them, in part, as 
 follows : 
 
 ''Therefore get ye straightway into my land; 
 break down the walls of mine enemies, throw down 
 •"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 98. 
 
GATHERING TO ZION 183 
 
 their tower, and scatter their watchmen; and inas- 
 much as they gather together against you, avenge 
 me of mine enemies."' 
 
 This was the first attempt on the part of the 
 Mormons to raise and command an army. 
 Under the assumed name of "Baurak Ale" 
 Joseph Smith stood at its head as the " Gen- 
 eral." ' 
 
 Finally the army disbanded and the whole 
 venture ended in a complete defeat.' All the 
 promises of restoration upon the chosen land 
 failed miserably. The " enemies " were left in 
 possession. This is not a very pleasing topic 
 of conversation for the Mormon of to-day. The 
 Church History published by the Eeorganized 
 Church says : 
 
 **What was accomplished by all this sacrifice? 
 Impossible to tell. Such questions mortals cannot 
 decide."- 
 
 It is a wonder that the Mormons would con- 
 tinue to believe in a Prophet whose predictions 
 and commands had failed so utterly. Some of 
 them did become weak in the faith. Smith al- 
 ways had recourse to the conditions of his 
 revelations : viz., " If ye are faithful," " If ye 
 keep my commandments," etc., and could al- 
 ways be safe in pointing to the wealoiess of his 
 
 •"Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 100. 
 '"Church History," (R), 1:462 ff. 
 • Ibid., 1 : 484 ff. 
 •/6tU, p. 487 ff. 
 
184 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 people as the excuse for tlie non-fulfillment of 
 his revelations." Notwithstanding the complete 
 defeat of this first venture at gathering to Zion, 
 the hope persisted for many years that the Mor- 
 mons would eventually return there. Even 
 after the Mormons were well established in Utah 
 one of the leaders declared : 
 
 *^You will see the day when Presidents Young, 
 Kimball, and Wells, and the twelve apostles will be 
 in Jackson County, Missouri, laying out your in- 
 heritances. In the flesh? Of course. 
 
 We should look well without being in the flesh! 
 We shall be there in the flesh, and all our enemies 
 cannot prevent it."" 
 
 It is useless to note that this prediction failed. 
 The Utah Mormons seem to have forgotten 
 about the revelations that pointed out Missouri 
 as the Mormon Zion. Since they live in the 
 midst of the Mountains, they have put forth the 
 idea that it was predicted by Isaiah," that " The 
 Mountain of the Lord's House " was to be 
 established out there; that they are living in 
 the Zion out from which is to go forth the law, 
 etc. 
 
 Note. — In a recent statement by a Mormon authority, the 
 limits of "zion" are enlarged to inchide the whole of 
 America. Article " Mormons in the War," Literary Digest, 
 July 27, 1918. 
 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), sec. 102. 
 ""Brighamism Exposed," (R), p. 164. 
 " Isa. 2 : 1-3. 
 
GATHERING TO ZION 185 
 
 The members of the Eeorganized Church have 
 been reviving interest in the old revelations, 
 although they surely do not understand their 
 historical basis and have been steadily gather- 
 ing out of other States into Missouri. They 
 have been cautioned to do this with care, re- 
 garding the feelings of the people residing there. 
 These members, as a rule, are law-abiding and 
 respectful of the rights and privileges of others. 
 What the effect will be if large numbers shall 
 gather there; what complications may arise, 
 politically and otherwise, no one can tell. 
 
 The remnants of the Army which disbanded 
 in Clay County returned to Kirtland, Ohio. 
 Some remained with the Mormon brethren and 
 with them found shelter and hospitality among 
 the citizens of the County, who believed that 
 they had been dealt with unjustly by the people 
 of Jackson County. 
 
 However, after a short time they began to 
 change their minds and called a public meeting 
 and asked the Mormons to move on as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 This resulted in the Mormons settling in the 
 County of Caldwell and vicinity. Here at a 
 place called Far West, they began to build a 
 city, and on July 4, 1837, it was estimated that 
 more than fifteen hundred Mormons had gath- 
 ered there. 
 
 Here was another opportunity for the 
 
186 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 Prophet to test out his predictive powers. Of 
 the prospects for the gathering to another Zion, 
 he says : 
 
 *'Be it known to the Saints scattered abroad 
 Greeting: That myself, together with my beloved 
 brother, Sidney Rigdon, have been appointed by a 
 general conference of Elders, held in Kirtland, in 
 the House of the Lord, on the 18th of September, for 
 the purpose of establishing places of gathering for 
 the Saints . . . 
 
 Who are gathering for a refuge and safety in the 
 day of the wrath of God, which is soon to burst upon 
 the head of this generation, according to the testi- 
 mony of the prophets ; 
 
 . . . Now we would recommend to the Saints 
 scattered abroad to make all possible exertions, to 
 gather ... as peace, Verily, thus saith the 
 Lord, peace shall be taken from the earth and it has 
 already begun to be taken . . . 
 
 Therefore make haste saith the Lord, ye my 
 people, and gather yourselves together."" 
 
 Again he says : 
 
 *'Our hearts are made glad with the pleasing in- 
 telligence of the gathering of the Saints from all 
 parts of the earth to this place, to avoid the destruc- 
 tions which are coming upon this generation/' " 
 
 So the faithful, believing people accepted 
 
 ^^ Elders' Journal, November, 1837, pp. 27-28. 
 "Millennial Star, Vol. 16, p. 150. 
 
GATHERING TO ZION 187 
 
 this doubly assured message and began to as- 
 semble from far and near. The Elders went 
 out to preach and as fast as converts were made 
 they were admonished to flee to Zion to escape 
 the fate of those to be found outside. Did not 
 all outside the Ark perish? What then will be- 
 come of those in Babylon? Make haste ! Flee ! 
 This was the word and it was heeded. Many 
 who journeyed there died by the way of expo- 
 sure and endured much suffering besides the 
 breaking up of their homes and the loss of 
 property. 
 
 What was the result of all this sacrifice? 
 The people found another bitter disappoint- 
 ment. They found anything other than a place 
 of " refuge and safety '^ ; the destructions they 
 sought to avoid never came ; the wrath of God 
 did not burst upon the heads of " this genera- 
 tion." The Mormons so conducted themselves 
 that the Governor of the State issued an order 
 expelling them from the State October 27, 1838. 
 The leaders of the Mormons went to Missouri, 
 this second time, with a vivid remembrance of 
 their late experience with the Missourians in 
 Jackson County, They were armed, and by 
 moving about in armed bands caused alarm on 
 the part of the people. It was the Mormons who 
 first gave the threat of extermination. Sidney 
 Eigdon, in his Fourth of July oration at Far 
 West, declared : 
 
188 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 ''And that mob that comes on us to disturb us it 
 shall be between us and them a war of extermina- 
 tion; for we will follow them until the last drop of 
 their blood is spilled, or else they will have to ex- 
 terminate us.''" 
 
 Matters grew steadily more and more threat- 
 ening; there were several clashes between the 
 people and the Mormons; it became perfectly 
 evident that there conld be no toleration of each 
 other; finally the Mormons rushed out and at- 
 tacked the State Militia ; then drastic measures 
 followed, and peace was no more notably taken 
 from the earth than from the midst of the Latter 
 Day Saints. All ended in confusion, suffering 
 and disappointment, in which the innocent were 
 made victims with the guilty. The Mormons 
 began an exodus from the State, going across 
 the Mississippi Kiver into Illinois. Joseph 
 Smith and other leading Mormons were landed 
 in jail on State warrants, but in waiting for 
 trial were able to escape and followed their 
 people to Illinois. At Far West the Mormons 
 had begun the erection of a great Temple. 
 Smith had declared that Adam, the father of the 
 hmnan race, had dwelt there. All hopes of 
 building a Zion at that place were ever after 
 abandoned. What a reflection on all the revela- 
 tions and promises given through the self-ap- 
 pointed Prophet ! 
 
 ""Church History," (R), 2:165. 
 
GATHERING TO ZION 189 
 
 Wlien the Mormons arrived in Illinois the 
 people bestowed upon them generous sympathy 
 and hospitality and other substantial evidences 
 of their good will. 
 
 Most of the Mormons gathered in the vicinity 
 of Quincy, but shortly a deal was made for a 
 large tract of land at Nauvoo, a place on the 
 Mississippi Eiver, beautiful and appropriate for 
 the building of a city. After the recent episode 
 in Missouri, the revelations which Smith often 
 received so plentifully became more and more 
 scarce. Several leading men of the Church, in- 
 cluding the " three witnesses " to the " Book of 
 Mormon," had become exi^elled; others had 
 given uj) in disgust. Smith denounced many of 
 his followers in very bitter terms from the con- 
 fines of the jail where he was awaiting trial in 
 Missouri." 
 
 Now that there was another prospect for the 
 building of Zion at Nauvoo, the revelations be- 
 gan to come again. On the 15th of January, 
 1841, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and Sidney 
 Eigdon addressed the following to the Saints : 
 
 ** Having been instrumental in the hands of our 
 heavenly Father, in laying a foundation for the 
 gathering of Zion, we would say, let all those who 
 appreciate the blessings of the gospel . . . dis- 
 pose of their effects as fast as circumstances will pos- 
 
 ^'^ Millennial Star, Vol, i6, pp. 636-628. 
 
190 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 sibly admit, without making too great sacrifices and 
 remove to our city and county . . . this will 
 secure our permanent inheritance and prepare the 
 way for the gathering of the poor. 
 
 This is agreeable to the order of heaven and the 
 only principle on which the gathering can be ef- 
 fected — let the rich then, and all who can assist in 
 establishing this place make every preparation to 
 come on without delay . . . the Elders are 
 hereby instructed to proclaim this word, in all places 
 where the Saints reside, in their public administra- 
 tions, for this is according to the instructions we 
 have received from the Lord . . . Let the Saints 
 come here — this is the word of the Lord. ' ' " 
 
 Now for the third time the Saints began to 
 show their faith by their works and gathered 
 from various parts of the United States and 
 Canada. Mormon propaganda had met with 
 unusual success in England and converts began 
 to pour in by the ship-load. The people were 
 directed to purchase their lands through Joseph 
 Smith, with the promise of God's blessing upon 
 them if they did," while some were excommuni- 
 cated for not doing so." 
 
 The storm-clouds soon began to hover over 
 this so-called city of Zion. The Illinoians who 
 had, like the people of Clay County, Missouri, 
 received and sheltered the Mormons, sympa- 
 
 " Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, pp. 274-276. 
 "Nauvoo Neighbor, December 27, 1843, 
 ^' Millennial Star, Vol 20, p. 549. 
 
GATHEEING TO ZION 191 
 
 thized with them in their alleged persecutions 
 and condemned their persecutors, now began to 
 look upon them as very undesirable neighbors. 
 The Mormons were accused of crime of nearly 
 every description. The accusations were chiefly 
 made by Mormons, or those who had been Mor- 
 mons. Their conduct was such that their pres- 
 ence could no longer be tolerated. Under the 
 leadership of Smith, his followers destroyed the 
 printing press of The Nauvoo Expositor, which 
 raised the people to the height of fury, and 
 Smith was landed in the jail at Carthage, Han- 
 cock County, where a band of infuriated citizens 
 overcame a body of soldiers who were on guard 
 and shot him and his brother Hyrum to death, 
 June 27, 1844. 
 
 The Mormons were given a certain time to 
 prepare to leave Illinois, and being compelled by 
 
 Note. — One of the prevalent tendencies, as a result of 
 Mormon propaganda, is to minimize the menace of Mor- 
 monism. It is said to be, " No longer the menace to Ameri- 
 can ideals that it once was; that polygamy is practically 
 eliminated from the Mormon creed and is publicly discounte- 
 nanced." 
 
 This the Mormons would like the public to believe. But 
 if the public believes this it will be deceived in so doing. 
 The Mormons never ceased polygamous practice, in any 
 degree, from choice. They did what they did by compulsion. 
 When the government began wholesale war on polygamy 
 the Alormons sought peace by " negotiation " and got it 
 through diplomacy. However, every Utah Mormon believes 
 he is in a universe around which are numberless spirits 
 waiting for a body which can only be given through polyg- 
 amj'. Mormon books teach it and Mormon people believe 
 it as ardently as ever. All talk about it as a " Dead issue " 
 is a camouflage of the truth. 
 
192 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 a force of arms, they evacuated the city in 1846, 
 the main body following under the lead of 
 Brigham Young to Utah and wcinity. Others 
 followed the several leaders who arose at this 
 time, all of them making wild and extravagant 
 claims, while others gave up their faith in Mor- 
 monism forever. 
 
 These attempts to gather to Zion so far had 
 only resulted in an opportunity for the leaders 
 to exploit the people, and they clearly demon- 
 strated their mistaken ideas which they had 
 given out as the wisdom of the Almighty. 
 
XII 
 THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOE 
 
 THE leading crisis in tlie history of the 
 Mormon Church under the leadership 
 of Joseph Smith came with the publi- 
 cation of the above-named paper, the first and 
 only issue bearing date of June 7, 1844. 
 
 The principal person engaged in the publica- 
 tion was William Law, who had been elevated 
 to the position of first counsellor to Joseph 
 Smith, in the place of his brother Hyrum.' 
 
 The paper, true to its name, was published at 
 Nauvoo, Illinois, for the purpose of exposing the 
 evils which it alleged existed in Mormondom at 
 that time. It would seem a thing of vast impor- 
 tance, in view of the general reputation of Mor- 
 monism, that every person interested in any de- 
 gree should know something of the contents of 
 this paper. The Mormon historians have not 
 reproduced its subject matter. A very small per 
 cent of the Mormons of to-day know anything 
 about it. The history published by the Reorgan- 
 ized Church dismisses it with these few words : 
 
 *" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:29. 
 193 
 
194 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 *' June 7, 1844, the Expositor made its appearance. 
 It contained much that was of a slanderous char- 
 acter, and also affidavits against the character of the 
 Prophet and others/' ' 
 
 There seems to be a disposition on the part of 
 present-day leaders of Mormonism to keep the 
 knowledge of the contents of this paper from the 
 people. Immediately upon the publication of 
 the paper, the Mormons, fearing its effect, or- 
 dered its utter destruction. The press was des- 
 troyed and the type thrown into the street and 
 the publishers were compelled to flee. There are 
 yet a few copies of the paper in existence ' and 
 the quotations which we make here are direct. 
 
 At the time of the publication of the paper 
 Mr. Law, and others associated with him, be- 
 lieved in the Mormon Church. They, however, 
 saw that the practice of things in secret and 
 their public denial would inevitably lead to dis- 
 aster. They professed to act from high motives 
 that the truth might be known. Nearly every- 
 thing that was charged against the leaders of 
 Mormonism at the time has since been com- 
 monly admitted to have been true. 
 
 The Expositor set forth its allegations in a 
 series of resolutions, the first of which was a 
 protest against : 
 
 « " Church History," (R) , 2 : 737- 
 
 "Quotations are made from original, copy of which may 
 be found in the New York City Public I^ibrary. 
 
THE KAUVOO EXPOSITOE 195 
 
 **The acts of any Court in this Church for the 
 trial of any of its members, which will not suffer 
 the accused to be present and plead their own 
 
 Mr. Law and several others had been expelled 
 from the Church without an opportunity to de- 
 fend themselves. The second resolution charged 
 Joseph and Hyrum Smith and other ofQ.cial 
 characters : 
 
 **They have introduced into the Church, false and^ 
 damnable doctrines, such as plurality of Gods ' 
 ... the plurality of wives for time and eternity 
 . . . we are therefore constrained to denounce 
 them as apostates from the pure and holy doctrine ^ 
 of Jesus Christ." 
 
 Under the pretext of giving the world " milk 
 before meat," the Utah Mormons have tried to 
 justify themselves in the living of an open lie — 
 they were actually practicing polygamy secretly 
 and denying it publicly. The Keorganized 
 Church to-day is seeking to uphold another 
 falsehood of the rankest sort by asserting that 
 polygamy is only chargeable upon the Utah 
 Mormons. It was charged before there were 
 Utah Mormons. The third resolution was as 
 follows : 
 
 *'That we disapprobate and discountenance every 
 attempt to unite Church and State ; and we further 
 })elieve the effort now being made by Joseph Smith, 
 
198 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 for political power and influence, is not commend- 
 able in the sight of God.'' * 
 
 At the time Joseph Smith was out on an inde- 
 pendent ticket for President of the United 
 States. The resolution sounds more the note of 
 good sense than slander. 
 
 The fourth resolution reads : 
 
 **That the hostile spirit and conduct manifested 
 by Joseph Smith, and many of his associates, toward 
 Missouri, and others inimical to his purposes, are 
 decidedly at variance with the true spirit of Chris- 
 tianity, and should not be encouraged by any people, 
 much less by those professing to be the ministers of 
 the gospel of peace.'' 
 
 Was there justification for such a resolution? 
 Kote the following : 
 
 ''0 Death! wilt thou not give to every honest man 
 a heated dart to sting those wretches while they 
 pollute the land ? 
 
 And Grave! wilt thou not open the trap door 
 to the pit of ungodly men, that they may stumble 
 inr"* 
 
 Again : 
 
 *Over 300 Elders were out to "Present before the peo- 
 ple General Smith's views of the powers and policy of the 
 general government, and to seek diligently to get up electors 
 who will go for him for the Presidency/*— iW^tV/^wm'a/ Star, 
 Vol. 23, pp. 360-374. 
 
 ^MiHi^nnial ^tar, Vol Z2, p. 391. 
 
THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOR 197 
 
 ** Missouri . . . should she continue her pres- 
 ent murderous policy, the day of righteous retribu- 
 tion and the avenging of blood will not be procrasti- 
 nated — for her plains shall be bleached with the 
 bones of the slain, and her rivers flow with blood, 
 before another massacre will be suffered.''" 
 
 Missouri had repeatedly attempted to capture 
 Smith and take him back withiu the State for 
 trial upon the charges pending against him 
 when he escaped from the jail. These threats 
 were made in consequence of these attempts. 
 The Missourians have some very serious charges 
 to make against the Mormons, such as burning 
 their houses, stealing, etc. 
 
 The fifth resolution reads : 
 
 *'That we disapprobate malicious persecution and 
 prosecution. We hold that Church members are 
 alike amenable to the laws of the land ; and we fur- 
 ther discountenance any chicanery to screen them 
 from the just demands of the same.'* 
 
 As Judge of the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, 
 Smith could discharge from arrest any person 
 in his favor. The manner of administration of 
 justice from that tribunal could not long be tol- 
 erated in a free country and resulted in the re- 
 peal of the City Charter by action of the State. 
 Hence the resolution was highly justifiable. 
 What an impropriety for a man in Smith's posi- 
 
 ° Times and Seasons, Vol. i, p. 167. 
 
198 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 tion to be acting as a judge! The Eeorganized 
 Church seems to think it a great outrage that 
 the Utah Church has been so mixed up in secu- 
 lar affairs, even to granting divorces,' but in so 
 doing the Church is carrying on the methods 
 employed by the Prophet. 
 The sixth resolution reads : 
 
 *'That we consider the religious influence exer- 
 cised in financial concerns by Joseph Smith, as un- 
 just as it is unwarranted, for the book of Doctrine 
 and Covenants, makes it the duty of the Bishop to 
 take charge of the financial affairs of the Church.'' 
 
 In the Mormon literature of that day Smith 
 is often referred to as " Trustee in Trust." ' He 
 ever kept close to the receiving department of the 
 Church finances. He was the treasurer of the 
 "Kirtland Safety Society Bank,"' which was 
 organized after the Legislature of the State of 
 Ohio had refused to grant a charter, and soon 
 failed, causing great dissatisfaction among the 
 followers of Smith, so that he left Kirtland 
 under cover of the night and never returned. 
 
 The seventh resolution reads : 
 
 **That we discountenance and disapprobate the 
 attendance at houses of revelling and dancing ; dram 
 shops and theatres." 
 
 '"Brighainism Exposed," (R), p. 142. 
 
 * Naiivoo Neighbor, December 27, 1843. 
 
 * " Slory of the Mormons," by Linn, p. 1485^. 
 
THE NATJVOO EXPOSITOR 199 
 
 Dancing and drinking have continued in the 
 Mormon Church in Utah." The following is of 
 interest, showing the attitude of the Prophet : 
 
 *'I told Theodore Turley that I had no objection 
 to his building a brewery."" 
 
 In the Church paper Mr. Turley gave notice 
 of his business, concluding with this : 
 
 ^'N. B, Whiskey, Beer and Cider Barrels, taken 
 in exchange for Beer and Ale.'' " 
 
 It seems very probable that the charge made 
 by the Expositor could easily be sustained. The 
 eighth resolution states : 
 
 **That we look upon the pure and holy doctrines 
 set forth in the scriptures of divine truth, as being 
 the immutable doctrines of salvation, and he who 
 abideth in them shall be saved.'' 
 
 This statement was no doubt called forth by 
 the polygamous revelation, which, the Expositor 
 declared, had been secretly introduced by Smith, 
 which declared, " for no one can reject this cove- 
 nant and be permitted to enter into my glory." " 
 
 The ninth resolution reads as follows : 
 
 ""Mormonism— The Islam of America," p. 134 ff. 
 "Millennial Star, Vol. 20, p. 647. 
 "Nanvoo Neighbor, April 10, 1844. 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (U), 132:4. 
 
200 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 "That we consider gathering in haste, and by 
 sacrifice, to be contrary to the will of God; and 
 that it has been taught by Joseph Smith and others 
 for the purpose of enabling them to sell property at 
 most exorbitant prices ; not regarding the welfare of 
 the Church, but through their covetousness reducing 
 those who had means to give employment to the poor 
 to the necessity to seeking labor for themselves ; and 
 thus the wealth which is brought into the place is 
 swallowed up of the one great throat, from whence 
 there is no return. '* 
 
 The tenth resolution reads, in part, as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 '^That ... we consider the injunction laid 
 upon the Church, compelling them to purchase prop- 
 erty of the Trustee in Trust (Smith) is a deception 
 practised upon them . . . 
 
 That the appropriations said to have been sub- 
 scribed by shares for the building of the Nauvoo 
 House, to have been used by J. Smith and Lyman 
 Wight, for other purposes. '^ 
 
 The eleventh resolution was as follows : 
 
 "That we consider all secret societies and com- 
 binations under penal oaths and obligations to be 
 anti-Christian, hypocritical and corrupt." 
 
 A band, called the " Danites," or " Avenging 
 Angels," had been organized in connection with 
 the Church in Missouri. There is evidence of 
 
THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOR 201 
 
 their existence in and about Nanvoo, and of their 
 evil work in Utah and vicinity. 
 
 The twelfth resolution reads as follows : 
 
 **That we will not acknowledge any man as King 
 or law giver to the Church; for Christ is our only 
 King and law giver/' 
 
 It is a fact, well authenticated, as before men- 
 tioned, that Joseph Smith was ordained a king 
 to reign over the House of Israel forever ! " Mr. 
 Law, who was officially connected with the Ex- 
 positor, was in position to know what was going 
 on within the inner circle of the Church, as he 
 was a member of the First Presidency. 
 
 The thirteenth resolution reads : 
 
 **That we call upon the honest in heart m the 
 Church, and throughout the world, to vindicate the 
 pure doctrine of Jesus Christ, whether set forth in 
 the Bible, Book of Mormon or Book of Covenants; 
 and we hereby withdraw the hand of fellowship from 
 all those who practise or teach doctrines contrary to 
 the above.*' 
 
 Mr. Law and others endeavored to maintain a 
 religious organization with a view to carrying 
 out this resolution, but because of the violent 
 opposition of the other Mormons had to desist. 
 
 The fourteenth resolution reads : 
 
 "Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. 51, No. 4, Statement of Wm. 
 Marks. 
 
202 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 ' ' That we hereby notify all those holding licenses 
 to preach the gospel, who know they are guilty of 
 teaching the doctrine of other Gods above the God 
 of this world; the plurality of wives; the uncondi- 
 tional sealing up against all crimes, save that of 
 shedding of innocent blood; the spoiling of the 
 gentiles, and all other doctrines, which are contrary 
 to the laws of God, to the laws of the country, to 
 cease preaching/' 
 
 Nearly all these things were taught in the 
 new revelations which Smith had received. The 
 Utah Mormons have continued to stand by them, 
 while the Eeorganized Church has been trying 
 to becloud the minds of the people with refer- 
 ence to them. 
 
 The fifteenth and last resolution reads : 
 
 '*That in all our controversies in defense of truth 
 and righteousness, the weapons of our warfare are 
 not carnal; but mighty through God, to the pulling 
 down of the strongholds of Satan; that our strifes 
 are not against flesh or blood or bones ; but against 
 principalities and power; against spiritual wicked- 
 ness in high places.'' 
 
 In the light of the subsequent history of Mor- 
 monism it may be clearly seen that all these 
 charges were made on the basis of fact. All 
 Mormons should know these facts. 
 
 Immediately after the publication of the Ew- 
 
THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOE 203 
 
 positor the City Council was called by the 
 Mayor, Joseph Smith. Smith declared to the 
 council that " He would rather die to-morrow 
 and have the thing smashed, than live and have 
 it go on, for it is exciting the spirit of mobocracy 
 amongst the people and bringing death and de- 
 struction upon us." " 
 
 Councillor Hyrum Smith, his brother, said he 
 " believed the best way was to smash the press 
 and ^ pi ' the type." A resolution was passed by 
 the council to cause " said printing press to be 
 removed without delay, in such manner as he 
 shall direct." Smith at once gave the order to 
 destroy the press and "pi" the type in the 
 street, and burn all Expositors, and if resistance 
 should be offered to demolish the house, etc. 
 
 The Mormons proceeded to carry out this 
 order. Eeturning from the destruction of the 
 Expositor, the crowd was met by Smith at the 
 door of his mansion, where he says, " I told them 
 they had done right and that not a hair of their 
 heads should be hurt for it . . . I then blessed 
 them in the name of the Lord." " It has been 
 held by of^cials of the Reorganized Church that 
 Smith was not to blame for this drastic act that 
 probably cost him his life. The minutes of the 
 Council, published in the Mormon paper, The 
 Naiivoo Neighbor, June 19, 1844, shows very 
 
 ^^ Naiivoo Neighbor, June 19, 1844. 
 ^^ Millennial Star, Vol. 2Z, p. 752. 
 
204 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 clearly that he was directly responsible. In the 
 same issue he declared : 
 
 * ' If then our charter gives us the power to decide 
 what shall be a nuisance and cause it to be removed, 
 where is the offense? ... I Therefore, in be- 
 half of the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, warn the 
 lawless not to precipitate in any interference in our 
 affairs, for as sure as there is a God in Israel, we 
 shall ride triumphant over all oppression." 
 
 Governor Ford, of Illinois, said : 
 
 **The whole proceedings of the Mayor, the Com- 
 mon Council, and the Municipal Court were irregular 
 and illegal, and not to be endured in a free coun- 
 try."" 
 
 In the Expositor there appeared affidavits 
 from prominent persons to the effect that 
 Joseph and Hyrum Smith had taught them the 
 doctrine of polygamy. This and other evidence 
 we will consider in the succeeding chapter. 
 
 *' Ford's " History of Illinois," p. 325. 
 
xm 
 
 MORMON POLYGAMY 
 
 THERE is no subject in connection with 
 Mormonism that has provoked so much 
 controversy and comment as polygamy. 
 The Utah Church openly and publicly acknowl- 
 edged their acceptance of this doctrine, after 
 having practiced it secretly and denying it in 
 their printed statements for years. 
 
 The Reorganized Church repudiates the doc- 
 trine and seeks to defend Mormonism, under the 
 leadership of Joseph Smith, from complicity in 
 the evil. The Reorganized Church boldly as- 
 serts : That " There is not an authentic pub- 
 lished word " that ever came from the pen or 
 tongue of Joseph Smith behind which a polyga- 
 mist can hide.* 
 
 Heman C. Smith, Church Historian, says : 
 
 ** There can be found no word in favor of plural 
 marriage in Church publications issued before the 
 death of Joseph Smith, June 27, 1844.''' 
 
 * Pamphlet No. 600, "J. Smith m His Own Defense," (R), 
 p. 2. 
 
 'Pamphlet, "Was J. Smith a Polygamist?" (R), July, 
 1899, 
 
 205 
 
^6 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 In a pamphlet entitled " An Open Letter to 
 the Clergy," written by Mr. E. A. Smith, of the 
 Eeorganized Church, he says : 
 
 *'Behmd the evil mask of Utah Mormonism is seen 
 the face of Brigham Young, not that of Joseph 
 Smith. 
 
 The so-called revelation sanctioning polygamy 
 found in Utah Editions of the Doctrine and Cove- 
 nants, while it bears the name of Joseph Smith, was 
 never published until eight years after his death, and 
 was then produced by Brigham Yomig. It is a 
 fradulent document."' 
 
 This pamphlet is now being circulated, espe- 
 cially among the clergy, in order to win favor 
 toward this sect of Mormonism. Will the facts 
 justify these assertions? They will not. Against 
 these statements we shall offer evidence quoted 
 directly from the publications of the time, prov- 
 ing conclusively that Joseph Smith, the Mormon 
 Prophet, did covertly, under the claim of a reve- 
 lation from God to him, teach the doctrine of 
 plurality of wives to leading officers and mem- 
 bers of the Mormon Church at Nauvoo, Illinois. 
 In the Nauvoo Expositor, published June 7, 
 1844, the following affidavit appears : 
 
 *'I hereby certify that Hyrum Smith, did read to 
 me a certain written document, which he said was a 
 revelation from God. He said he was with Joseph 
 *"Aii Open lyctter to the Clergy," p. 8. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 207 
 
 when it was received. He afterwards gave me the 
 document to read, and I took it to my house and 
 read it and showed it to my wife and returned it the 
 next day. 
 
 The revelation authorized certain men to have 
 more wives than one at a time, in this world and in 
 the world to come. It said this was the law and 
 commanded Joseph to enter into the law. Several 
 other items were in the revelation supporting the 
 above doctrines.* Wm. Law." 
 
 Mrs. Law, wife of William Law, gave the fol- 
 lowing sworn statement : 
 
 '*I certify that I read the revelation referred to in 
 the above affidavit of my husband. It sustained in 
 strong terms the doctrine of more wives than one at 
 a time, in this world and in the next. It authorized 
 some to have to the number of ten, and set forth that 
 those women who would not allow their husbands 
 more wives than one should be under condemna- 
 tion before God. Jane Law." 
 
 The following statement also appears in the 
 Expositor from a " firm friend to the Prophet," ** 
 Elder Austin Cowles : 
 
 *'To All Whom it May Concern: 
 
 For as much as the public mind hath been much 
 agitated by a course of procedure in the Church of 
 
 * Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Robinson, prominent members of 
 the Reorganized Church, made a sworn statement, in 1873, 
 that Hyrum Smith taught them the doctrine of polygamy at 
 Nauvoo in 1843. 
 
 " " Tullidge History," p. 749. 
 
208 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MOEMONISM 
 
 Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by a number of 
 persons declaring against certain doctrines and 
 practices therein, it is but meet that I should give my 
 reasons, at least in part, as a cause that hath led me 
 to declare myself. 
 
 In the latter part of the summer, 1843, the 
 patriarch, Hyrum Smith, did, in the High Council 
 of which I was a member, introduce what he said 
 was a revelation given through the Prophet; that 
 the said Hyrum Smith did read said revelation in 
 said council; that according to his reading there 
 was contained the following doctrines : 
 
 1st. The sealing up of persons to eternal life, 
 against all sin, save that of shedding innocent blood 
 or consenting thereto ; 2nd. The doctrine of plurality 
 of wives or marrying of virgins; that David and 
 Solomon had many wives, yet in this thing they 
 sinned not save in the matter of Uriah. 
 
 This revelation, with other evidence that the afore- 
 said heresies were taught and practised in the 
 Church, determined me to leave the office of first 
 counselor to the President of the Church at Kauvoo, 
 inasmuch as I dared not teach or administer such 
 laws. Austin Cowles.'" 
 
 Note.—" The doctrine of plurality of wives is a part of 
 our religion, and necessary for our exaltation in the eternal 
 world. Take unto yourselves more wives." This was said 
 by Orson Pratt, Mormon Apostle. In obedience to it Fathers 
 have bound and whipped their daughters until they would 
 submit to marriage to some old polygamist. A chapter of 
 horrors might be written of the jealousies, quarrels, the 
 cruelties, and hatreds which never die, which have come 
 between polygamous wives in Utah. Although the Utah 
 Mormons claim they have abandoned the practice, they have 
 
 • These Affidavits are in Nauvoo Expositor, June 7, 1844, 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 
 
 209 
 
 hy no means ceased to believe the principle of plural mar- 
 riage. If they were willing to abandon the practice of 
 polygamy on a word from their prophet, who shall say that 
 they may not resume it if a word shall come to that effect? 
 But they have never abandoned it. 
 
 Note.— We will attempt a critical examination of the 
 " Revelation on plurality of Wives " purported to have been 
 given by Joseph Smith July 12, 1843, at Nauvoo, Illinois, and 
 later, in 1852, made public by the Church in Utah. As a 
 means of identification, some items in the brief description 
 given at the time are here offered : 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE 
 REVEI.ATION 
 
 Verily thus saith the Lord 
 unto you my servant Joseph, 
 that inasmuch as you have 
 inquired of my hand, to know 
 and understand wherein, I, 
 the Lord, justified my serv- 
 ants, Abraham, Isaac and 
 Jacob; as also Moses, David 
 and Solomon, my servants as 
 touching the principle and 
 doctrine of their having many 
 wives, and concubines : Be- 
 hold! and lo, I am the Lord 
 thy God and zvill answer thee 
 as touching this matter. — 
 Par. I. 
 
 Therefore prepare thy heart 
 to receive and obey the in- 
 structions which I am about 
 to give unto you . . . for 
 no one can reject this cove- 
 nant and be permitted to 
 enter into my glory. — Par, I. 
 
 I have appointed unto my 
 servant Joseph to hold this 
 power in the last days and 
 there is never but one on the 
 earth at a time, on whom this 
 power and the keys of this 
 priesthood are conferred. — 
 Par. 2. 
 
 STATEMENTS MADE 
 CONCERNING IT 
 
 "Referred to the revela- 
 tion read to the High Council 
 of the Church, which has 
 caused so much talk about a 
 multipHcity of wives; that 
 said revelation was in ansiver 
 to a question concerning 
 things which transpired in 
 former days, and had no ref- 
 erence to the present time." 
 Hyrum Smith. 
 
 "It said this was the law 
 and commanded Joseph to 
 enter into the law." 
 
 Wm. Law. 
 
 "And also that He (Jo- 
 seph) should administer to 
 others." Wm. Law. 
 
210 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MORMONISM 
 
 Therefore when they are 
 out of the world, they 
 neither marry nor are given 
 in marriage,hut are appointed 
 Angels in heaven, which An- 
 gels are ministering servants, 
 to minister for those who are 
 worthy of a far more, and an 
 exceeding, and an eternal 
 weight of glory; for these 
 Angels did not abide my law, 
 therefore they cannot be en- 
 larged but remain separately, 
 and singly, without exalta- 
 tion. — Par. 4. 
 
 "That on enquiring con- 
 cerning the passage in the 
 resurrection concerning' They 
 neither marry nor are given 
 in marriage/ etc., he received 
 for answer, — Men in this life 
 must marry in view of eter- 
 nity, otherwise they must re- 
 maiti as Angels, or be single 
 in heaven, which was the 
 amount of the revelation re- 
 ferred to."-— Joseph Smith. 
 
 I say unto you, if a man 
 marry a wife, and make a 
 covenant with her for time, 
 and for all eternity, if that 
 covenant is not by me, or by 
 my word which is my law, 
 and is not sealed by the Holy 
 Spirit of promise, through 
 him, whom I have anointed 
 and appointed unto this power 
 . . . when they are out of 
 the world it cannot be re- 
 ceived there, because the An- 
 gels and the Gods are ap- 
 pointed there, by whom they 
 cannot pass. — Par. 5. 
 
 "They make a criminality, 
 for a man to have a zvife on 
 the earth while he has one in 
 heaven, according to the keys 
 of the Holy Priesthood." 
 Joseph Smith. 
 
 And if ye abide in my 
 covenant and commit no mur- 
 der whereby to shed innocent 
 blood, it shall be done unto 
 them in all things whatsoever 
 my servant hath put upon 
 them, in time and through all 
 eternity; and shall be of full 
 force when they are out of 
 the world, and they shall pass 
 by the Angels, and the Gods 
 which are set there, to their 
 exaltation and glory.— Par. 6. 
 
 "Hyrum Smith did essay 
 to read the said revelation in 
 the said Council ; that accord- 
 ing to his reading, there was 
 contained the following doc- 
 trines : 1st, The sealing up of 
 persons to eternal life, against 
 all sin, save that of shedding 
 innocent blood or of consent- 
 ing thereto." 
 
 Austin Cowi.es. 
 
MOBMOK POLYGAMY 211 
 
 Then shall they be Gods, "The revelation is, the 
 
 because they have no end; more wives and children a 
 
 therefore shall they be from man has in this world, the 
 
 everlastinsc to everlasting . . . more honor and glory he will 
 
 then shall they be Gods be- have in the eternal world, 
 
 cause they have all power. They will sit on thrones and 
 
 and the Angels are subject have dominion— cr^ahw^r and 
 
 unto them.— Par. 7. redeeming worlds." 
 
 Warsaw Signai,. 
 
 Verily, verily I say unto "Therefore when the doc- 
 
 you except ye abide my law, trine of Polygamy was in- 
 
 ye cannot attain to this glory; troduced into the Church as 
 
 for strait is the gate, and a principle of exaltation, I 
 
 narrow the way that leadeth took a decided stand against 
 
 unto the exaltation.— Far. 8. it." Wm. Marks. 
 
 Then shall they be Gods, "They (Joseph and 
 because they have no end; Hyrum) have introduced false 
 . . . Then shall they be and damnable doctrines into 
 Gods, because they have all the Church, such as plurality 
 power and the Angels are of Gods.** Expositor. 
 
 subject unto them. — Par. 7. 
 
 Go ye therefore and do the " Brother Joseph has a rev- 
 
 works of Abraham; enter ye elation from God that it is 
 
 into my law, and ye shall be lawful and right for a man to 
 
 saved. But if ye enter not have two wives ; for as it was 
 
 into my law, ye cannot receive in the days of Aaraham, so 
 
 the promises of my Father, it shall be in these days." 
 
 which he made unto Abra- Marthy H. Broth erton. 
 ham.— Far. 12. 
 
 David also received many "That David and Solomon 
 wives and concubines as also had many wives yet in this 
 Solomon . . . and in none thing they sinned not, save in 
 of these things did he sin the matter of Uriah." 
 against me, save in the case Austin Cowi^ES. 
 
 of Uriah.— Far. 14 and 15. 
 
 Verily, verily I say unto "If there is any sin in it I 
 you, that whatsoever you seal will answer for it before 
 on earth, shall be sealed in God; and I have the keys of 
 heaven. — Par. 17. the Kingdom and whatever I 
 
 bind on earth is bound in 
 heaven . . . and if you 
 will accept of Brigham you 
 will be blessed." 
 
 Makxhy H. Broxherton. 
 
212 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 If any man espouse a "2nd. The doctrine of 
 virgin, and desire to espouse plurality of wives or marry- 
 another, and the first give her ing of virgins/* 
 consent; and if he espouse the Austin Cowles. 
 
 second, and they are virgins, 
 and have vowed to no other 
 man, then is he justified. — 
 Par. 24. 
 
 And if he have ten virgins " It authorized some to have 
 given unto him by this law, to the number of ten.'* 
 he cannot commit adultery Jane I^aw. 
 
 for they belong to him. — Par. 
 24. 
 
 If any man have a wife "Set forth that those 
 
 who holds the keys of this women who would not allow 
 
 power and he teaches unto their husbands more wives 
 
 her the laws of my priest- than one should be under 
 
 hood, as pertaining to these condemnation before God." 
 
 things, then shall she believe, JanE lyAW. 
 and adminster unto him, or 
 she shall be destroyed, saith 
 the I^ord your God. — Par. 25. 
 
 These statements indicate clearly to all, except those who 
 " prefer " to believe otherwise, that this revelation now 
 pronounced by the Reorganized Church as a " fraudulent 
 document " was known to all these persons in the days of 
 Joseph Smith. All these statements are in the published 
 records of that date and they cannot be denied. The revela- 
 tion was not written until some time after it had been given. 
 There is no disagreement between it and the common under- 
 standing which was had concerning it by those who knew 
 about it. 
 
 These affidavits do not appear in the history 
 of the Keorganized Church. In fact, they are 
 known to only a very small percentage of the 
 membership. A comparison of the revelation 
 on polygamy/ given in July, 1843, and published 
 in 1852, will show how perfectly the revelation 
 answers to these brief descriptions. Represent- 
 
 '" Doctrine and Covenants," (U), sec. 132. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 213 
 
 atives of the Eeorganized Church have been 
 very careless in the way they have tried to cover 
 over and hide this shameful iniquity. 
 
 A recent pamphlet, widely advertised, en- 
 titled " A Nineteenth Century Prophet and His 
 Work," says : 
 
 "Seldom, if ever, is it made clear that Utah Mor- 
 monism and polygamy were distortions developed 
 after the death of Smith in 1844. And that the 
 'Mormon* Church, with its theology, morals, prac- 
 tices, and ideals has been repudiated in the United 
 States Courts as not being the continuation of and 
 successor to * the original work of Joseph Smith/ 
 and declared to be an 'apostate and secessionist 
 body not entitled to the rights and properties of the 
 original church. This being the case, it is clear that 
 the man and his work must be judged quite apart 
 from Mormonism and what Mormonism popularly 
 stands for. '*" 
 
 But the trouble is, this is not the case ! The 
 evidence shows that polygamy was the leading 
 " distortion " before as well as after 1844. Sucb 
 a statement as the above cannot stand in the 
 light of the truth. The Utah Mormons did not 
 contest the actions of the United States Courts 
 referred to. The evidence was ex parte. In the 
 case of one of these courts, the Judge, Mr. Phil- 
 ips, told the author that he had made his deci- 
 
 ' " A Nineteenth Century Prophet and His W^ork." Pam- 
 phlet (R). 
 
214 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 sion " On the basis of the evidence that had been 
 l^resented to me." There are very important 
 matters in evidence that he had not reviewed. 
 Also note the following assertion : 
 
 ** Not till 1852 was there any mention made of any 
 such revelation, for the best of reasons : it was not in 
 existence. 
 
 It was first produced at a conference in Salt Lake 
 City, Utah, August, 1852, but dated back to 1843. 
 This would make it appear abortive — given in 1843 
 and not made public until nine years later.'' ' 
 
 Not only do we have mention made of this 
 revelation in the Expositor, but by recent 
 searching we have found mention of it in an 
 official Mormon paper, and that too before the 
 death of Smith. Upon the publication of the 
 Expository the whole city of Nanvoo was in an 
 uproar of excitement. The people in the sur- 
 rounding country had for some time believed 
 that the Mormons were guilty of the violation of 
 the sacred marriage relation, now the rimiors 
 were officially confirmed. Under such condi- 
 tions the City Council, hastily called, was pre- 
 sided over by Joseph Smith, the Mayor. The 
 minutes of the Council was published in The 
 Nauvoo Neighbor^ over the signature of the 
 clerk, on June 19, 1844." 
 
 * Zion's Bnsign, Independence, Mo., February 6, 1913. 
 *" The same may be found also in Millennial Star, Vol. 23, 
 pp. 754, 770, 816. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 215 
 
 These statements show that the Mormon lead- 
 ers were at last caught in their barbarous 
 schemes. Note how they equivocate under the 
 pressure of the charges made : 
 
 ** Councillor H. Smith — referred to the revelation 
 read to the High Council of the Church, which has 
 caused so much talk about a multiplicity of wives, 
 that said revelation was in answer to a question 
 concerning things which transpired in former days, 
 and had no reference to the present time. ' ^ " 
 
 The Mayor, Joseph Smith, said : 
 
 **They make a criminality for a man to have a 
 wife on the earth while he has one in heaven, ac- 
 cording to the keys of the holy priesthood . . s 
 that he had never preached the revelation in private 
 as he had in public — had not taught it to the 
 anointed in the Church in private, which statement 
 many present confirmed. 
 
 that on inquiring concerning the passage in the 
 resurrection concerning, * They neither marry nor 
 are given in marriage,' etc., he received for an- 
 swer, — men in this life must marry in view of eter- 
 nity, otherwise they must remain as angels, or be 
 single in heaven, which was the amount of the revela- 
 
 "Nauvoo Neighbor, June 19, 1844. NoTE.— There is no 
 mention of this paper in the history published by the Re- 
 organized Church. It appears that its existence has only 
 recently come to light. The first quotation from it appears 
 in Journal of History, (R), October, 1914, p. 452, 
 
216 THE FOUNDATIONS OP MORMONISM 
 
 tion referred to, and the Mayor spoke at considerable 
 length of explanation of this principle. ' ' " 
 
 Here, in this time of iexcitement, confronted 
 by the evidence of their iniquity, these brothers 
 in the flesh and confederates in licentiousness 
 contradict each other. One says it has no refer- 
 ence to the present time, the other gives it all 
 away by saying, " Men in this life must marry 
 in view of eternity, otherwise they must remain 
 as angels, or be single in heaven," etc. This is 
 a further identification of the revelation re- 
 ferred to in the Expositor, which says: "For 
 these angels did not abide my law, therefore they 
 cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and 
 singly, without exaltation, in their saved condi- 
 tion to all eternity, and from henceforth are not 
 Gods, but are angels of God, forever and for- 
 ever." " 
 
 As the Prophet spoke at length in explana- 
 tion of the principle, he had the very men in his 
 presence who were afterward the leaders of the 
 Utah polygamous Church. When this revela- 
 tion was declared publicly, in 1852, it was noth- 
 ing new, or strange ; indeed, the people had been 
 practicing the doctrine for years. The Mormons 
 seemed to feel that everything should come in 
 its time, and 1852 was the time, for they were 
 
 "Nauvoo Neighbor, June 19, 1844. 
 ""Doctrine aiid Covenants," (U), 132: 17. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 217 
 
 almost beyond tlie bounds of Christian civiliza- 
 tion where they could have things their own 
 way. 
 
 In this connection we quote the statement of 
 Joseph Smith, son of the Prophet and once 
 President of the Reorganized Church. He ad- 
 mits that the evil grew up gradually in the 
 Church in the later years of his father^s life. 
 
 '* But the evil, un-noted by him, had taken root, 
 and it was too late. What had been possibly inno- 
 cently spiritual became fleshly, sensual — devilish. 
 He was taken away. He and Hyrum placed them- 
 selves in front of the impending storm and went 
 do^vn to death. That which in life they were power- 
 less to prevent, rapidly took the successive forms 
 heretofore stated, and polygamy after eight years of 
 further fostering in secret, rose in terrible malignity 
 to essay the destruction of the Church. That my 
 father may have been a party to the first step in this 
 strange development, I am perhaps prepared to ad- 
 mit though the evidence connecting him with it is 
 vague and uncertain.''" 
 
 This statement was written by Mr. Smith 
 himself. It does not appear in the History of 
 the Reorganized Church. It would not be very 
 comforting to the faithful of these days and is 
 in utter contradiction to the present position of 
 the Reorganized Church. It would spoil their 
 
 " Tullidge, " Life of Joseph the Prophet " pp. 798-800. 
 
218 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 case to admit that Joseph and Hyrum Smith 
 went to their death under a storm occasioned 
 by the outraged moral sense of the people on ac- 
 count of fostering polygamy in secret. If there 
 is any vague or uncertain element in the evi- 
 dence which connects Smith directly with the 
 origin of this doctrine, it is because the thing 
 was fostered in secret. Sidney Eigdon, so well 
 known in all circles of Mormonism, made the 
 following statement just a few months after the 
 death of the Prophet. He says : 
 
 **It is a fact so well known, that the twelve and 
 their adherents have endeavored to carry out this 
 spiritual wife business in secret, that I hardly 
 need mention it here, and have gone to the most 
 shameful and desperate lengths to keep it from the 
 public. 
 
 First, insulting innocent females, and when they 
 resented the insult, these monsters in human shape 
 would assail their characters by lying and per- 
 juries, with a multitude of desperate men to help 
 them effect the ruin of those whom they had in- 
 sulted. . . . 
 
 How often have these men stood up before the 
 congregation and called God and the Holy Angels to 
 witness that there was no such doctrine taught in the 
 Church. ''" 
 
 Mr. Eigdon was certainly a competent wit- 
 
 "The Messenger and Advocate, Pittsburg, Pa., Vol. I, 
 p. 14. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 219 
 
 ness — he was there. There is corroborating evi- 
 dence of this statement, as the following sworn 
 statement of Miss Marthy H. Brotherton will 
 show. This statement was published in the 
 newspapers, The Warsaw Signal, July 30, 1842, 
 and The Sangamo Journal, July 22, 1842. This 
 lady tells how she was decoyed into the private 
 office of Joseph Smith by Brigham Young and 
 Heber C. Kimball. Young proposed polygamous 
 marriage to her under the new order. She says : 
 
 " My feelings at that moment were indescribable. 
 God only knows them. What ! thought I, are these 
 men that I thought almost perfection itself, de- 
 ceivers, and is all my fancied happiness but a dream? 
 
 It was even so ; but my next thought was, which 
 is the best way for me to act at this time ; if I say n(^ 
 they may do as they think proper ; and to say yes, I 
 never would. 
 
 So I considered it best to ask for time to think and 
 pray about it. I therefore said, ' if it is lawful and 
 right perhaps I might ; but you know, sir, it is not.' 
 
 ' Well, but,' said he, ' Brother Joseph has a reve- 
 lation from God that it is lawful and right for a man 
 to have two wives ; for as it was in the days of Abra- 
 ham, so it shall be in these days. ' ' ' 
 
 Young then unlocked the door and went out 
 with Kimball after locking it again with Miss 
 Brotherton on the inside. He was absent about 
 ten minutes, when he returned with the Prophet 
 who tried to persuade her to accept Brigham as 
 
220 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 her husband. Smith told her he held the keys 
 of the kingdom and that he would be responsible 
 for any sin in connection with it before God. 
 The girl finally was allowed to depart by prom- 
 ising to forfeit her life should she give away the 
 secret. She fled to St. Louis and lost no time in 
 giving her sworn testimony to the public." 
 
 As a sample of these public denials of inward 
 iniquity we quote the following : 
 
 '' NOTICE 
 ** As we have lately been credibly informed that 
 an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
 Saints, by name of Hyrum Brown, has been preach- 
 ing polygamy and other false and corrupt doctrines 
 in the County of Lapeer, State of Michigan : 
 
 This is to notify him and the Church in general, 
 that he has been cut oK from the Church for his in- 
 iquity; and he is further notified to appear at the 
 special conference on the 6th of April next, to make 
 answer to these charges. 
 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Hyrum Smith, 
 Presidents of said Church.'' " 
 
 Note that it was the error of " Preaching '^ 
 this doctrine that is the basis of the charge. 
 What kind of procedure is this, that executes a 
 sentence and then cites to a trial? Should not 
 
 " Quoted in " The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," by 
 Shook, p. 72. 
 " Times and Seasons, Vol, 5, p. 423. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 221 
 
 the trial come first? Was this really made in 
 good faith or as a blind? 
 
 This notice bears on its face an outstanding 
 falsehood — Hyrum Smith was not one of the 
 " Presidents " of the Church at this time. This 
 statement was made in 1844, while Hyrum 
 Smith had been released from the Presidency 
 and made a Patriarch in 1841." Mr. Willian 
 Law and Sidney Eigdon were associated with 
 Smith, constituting the Presidency, but cer- 
 tainly, in view of statements they have made, 
 they would never have signed this notice. It is 
 a glaring sample of Mormon treachery. An- 
 other public denial published by Hyrum Smith 
 is of suflcient importance that we include it : 
 
 "Nauvoo, March 15, 1841. 
 
 To the brethren of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
 Latter Day Saints, living on China Creek, in Han- 
 cock County, Greeting: — Whereas, Brother Richard 
 Hewitt has called on me to-day to know my views 
 concerning some doctrines that are preached in your 
 place, and states to me that some of your elders say, 
 that a man having a certain priesthood may have as 
 many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught 
 here : 
 
 I say unto you that that man teaches false doc- 
 trine, for there is no such doctrine taught here; 
 neither is there any such thing practiced here. Any 
 man that is found teaching privately or publicly any 
 ""Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 107:29, 
 
222 THE FOUNDATIOlilS OF MORMONISM 
 
 such doctrine is culpable, and will stand a chance to 
 be brought before the High Council, and lose his 
 license and membership also; therefore he had better 
 beware what he is about." 
 
 So much of this letter is quoted in the History 
 published by the Eeorgauized Church." Here is 
 a clear case of covering of facts that amounts 
 almost to an act of dishonesty. We quote the 
 remainder of this letter. It is as follows : 
 
 '* And again I say unto you, an elder has no busi- 
 ness to undertake to preach mysteries in any part of 
 the world, for God has commanded us all to preach 
 nothing but the first principles unto the world. 
 
 Neither has any elder any authority to preach any 
 mysterious thing to any branch of the Church unless 
 he has a direct command from God to do so. 
 
 Let the matter of the Grand Councils of Heaven, 
 the making of Gods, worlds and Devils entirely 
 alone; for you are not called to teach any such doc- 
 trine — for neither you nor the people are capaci- 
 tated to understand any such principles — less so to 
 teach them. 
 
 For when God commands men to teach such prin- 
 ciples the Saints will receive them. 
 
 Therefore beware what you teach! for the mys- 
 teries of God are not given to all men; and unto 
 those to whom they are given they are placed under 
 restrictions to impart only such as God will com- 
 mand them ; and the residue is to be kept in a f aith- 
 » " Church History," (R), 2 : 731. 
 
MORMON POLYGAMY 223 
 
 ful breast, otherwise he will be brought under con- 
 demnation. 
 
 By this God will prove his faithful servants who 
 will be called and numbered with the chosen. And 
 as to the celestial glory, all will enter in and possess 
 that kingdom that obey the gospel, and continue in 
 faith in the Lord unto the end of his days. Now, 
 therefore, I say unto you, you must cease preaching 
 your miraculous things, and let the mysteries alone 
 until bye and bye. 
 
 Preach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; repentance 
 and baptism for the remission of sins ; the laying on 
 of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost ; teaching the 
 necessity of strict obedience unto these principles; 
 reasoning out of the Scriptures ; proving them unto 
 the people. Humble yourselves as in dust and ashes, 
 lest God make you an ensample of His wrath unto 
 the surrounding world. Amen. 
 
 In the bonds of the everlasting covenant, I am 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Hyrum Smith."** 
 
 The question is : Are these notices either real 
 or tacit denials of a belief in or practice of 
 
 Note.— The Utah Church says, " Those denials can be ex- 
 plained and have been and while they are true in the sense 
 and for the purpose for which they were designed, they are 
 not denials of plural or celestial marriage as taught by Joseph 
 and Hyrum Smith, and practised at the time by both of 
 them, and many others in prominent standing in the Church. 
 These seeming denials themselves are specific proofs of the 
 existence of the true coin, the counterfeit of which they 
 denounced." — "Historical Record," (U), p. 220. 
 
 * Times and Seasons, Vol. I, 474. 
 
224 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 polygamy? Are they not carefully worded eva- 
 sions made for the purpose of quieting suspi- 
 cion? The Mormons went right forward in 
 teaching and fostering this doctrine. !Not alone 
 the Mormons who went to Utah did this — there 
 were at least six factions, or parties, who went 
 elsewhere under the leadership of some promi- 
 nent Mormon and all of them believed and prac- 
 ticed polygamy to some degree." These included 
 the Prophet's brother, William Smith, who ad- 
 vocated polygamy as late as ISSl.'' 
 
 As a practical illustration of the Mormon 
 method of dealing with the world, we may note 
 that the leading Elders of the Church continued 
 to make these denials up to near the date when 
 they openly declared belief in the doctrine. 
 
 In a public discussion by John Taylor, later 
 one of the Presidents of the Mormon Church, 
 held in France, in July, 1850, he said : 
 
 '*We are accused of polygamy, and actions the 
 most indelicate, obscene and disgusting, such that 
 none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have 
 contrived ... I shall content myself by read- 
 ing our views of chastity and marriage from a work 
 published by us."'' 
 
 He read from the declaration given in the 
 
 " " The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," by Shook, pp. 
 193-194. 
 "/6irf., pp. 194-195. "Ibid., p. 184. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 225 
 
 " Doctrine and Covenants/' then in force, which 
 seemed to favor his assertion, but the awful 
 truth is that at the very time he was the hus- 
 band of ten wives." 
 
 If one will take time and analyze the letter of 
 Hyrum Smith, one will see that the Mormons 
 have acted in harmony with it. He could say 
 consistently that it had never been taught that 
 a man, " having a certain priesthood," could 
 have as many wives as he pleased. Under the 
 guise of " the mysteries,'' the things not to be 
 preached unto the world, the things hidden in a 
 " faithful breast," — these things were to be left 
 alone, " until bye and bye." So, when at last 
 the time was ripe, Brigham Young, in 1852, de- 
 clared the principle of polygamy, which, as he 
 then said, had been practiced for years." 
 
 The Reorganized Church has boldly put forth 
 statements of Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet, 
 which she made in 1879, in which she says : 
 
 **No such thing as polygamy, or spiritual wifery, 
 was taught, publicly or privately, before my hus- 
 band's death, that I have now, or ever had, any 
 knowledge of."'" 
 
 It is impossible to credit this statement with 
 sincerity and honesty. Her son, to whom she 
 
 ""The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," by Shook, 
 p. 184. 
 *" Ibid., pp. 200-201. *• Ibid., p. 186. 
 
226 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 made this statement, said, as quoted in this 
 chapter, that these things came in the Church 
 during the later years of his father's life." She 
 must have known about it. The agitation over 
 the secret introduction of polygamy was such 
 that the Mormon and non-Mormon press made 
 frequent reference to it before her husband's 
 death. The old prints are still in evidence. 
 
 In earlier days of the Keorganized Church its 
 leading men made admissions that are rather 
 shocking in view of the present afftrmations. 
 
 Mr. William Marks, one of these leading men, 
 said: 
 
 ** During my administration in the Church (at 
 Nauvoo) I saw and heard of many things that were 
 practised and taught that I did not believe to be of 
 God; 
 
 . . . Therefore when the doctrine of polygamy 
 was introduced into the Church as a principle of ex- 
 altation, I took a decided stand against it; which 
 stand rendered me quite unpopular with many lead- 
 ing ones of the Church. 
 
 . . . Joseph became convinced before his death 
 that he had done wrong ... He said * We are a 
 ruined people.' I asked 'How so?' He said, 'This 
 doctrine of polygamy or spiritual wife system, that 
 has been taught and practised among us will prove 
 our destruction and overthrow. ' ' " 
 
 " " The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," p. ii ff. 
 ^Saints' Herald, (R), Vol 51, No. 4. Same quoted in 
 "The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy/' p. 159. 
 
MORMON POLYGAMY 227 
 
 This statement was published in 1853. Mr. 
 Marks was the President of the High Council, 
 where the revelation was introduced. How in- 
 consistent to try to turn aside such a testimony 
 coming from such an indisputable source ! 
 
 In the first issue of the Saints' Herald, offi.cial 
 publication of the Eeorganized Church, the 
 editor, Isaac Sheen, said : 
 
 *' Joseph Smith repented of his connection with 
 this doctrine, and said it was of the devil. He caused 
 the revelation on the subject to be burned.*'^ 
 
 Mr. Sheen lived in Hancock County from 1842 
 to 1846. He was editor of the Herald from 1859 
 to 1872. He died in 1874. His statement as 
 given above was never questioned while he was 
 living, but now it is dismissed by the statement, 
 " It was only his opinion." 
 
 Mr. Jason W. Briggs, the man through whom 
 the Eeorganized Church has its very beginning, 
 gave sworn testimony as follows : 
 
 **Yes, sir, I heard something about a revelation on 
 polygamy or plural marriage when I was in Nauvoo 
 in 1842 ; I heard there was one ; there was talk go- 
 ing on about it at the time and continued to be.'"* 
 
 To the ordinary person it will be a matter of 
 little interest as to who is responsible for this 
 
 ^Saints' Herald, (R), Vol. I, No. i, published i860. 
 *• " Evidence in Temple Lot Case," Independence, Mo., p. 
 399. Date about 1895. 
 
228 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 doctrine. However, tlie Eeorganized Church, 
 representing a body of people numbering, ap- 
 proximately, 100,000, have staked their all upon 
 the claim that polygamy is not to be charged 
 upon Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and the 
 Church under his leading. 
 
 The contention of the Eeorganized Church is : 
 That the " Books " do not teach polygamy. Ref- 
 erence is made to the " Book of Mormon," which 
 says : 
 
 ''Behold David and Solomon truly had many 
 wives and concubines which thing was abominable 
 before me . . . there shall not any man among 
 you have save it be one wife and concubines he shall 
 have none : For I the Lord delighteth in the chastity 
 of women and whoredoms are an abomination be- 
 fore me: thus saith the Lord of Hosts. Wherefore 
 this people shall keep my commandments, saith the 
 Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their 
 sakes.''" 
 
 So much of this statement is usually quoted 
 by the anti-polygamous Mormon. But there is 
 a clause which follows. It reads : 
 
 *'For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up 
 seed unto me, I will command my people : otherwise 
 they shall hearken unto these things." (Ibid.). 
 
 In the 'Arena Magazine for !A^ugust, 1902, 
 President Joseph Smith of the Reorganized 
 
 '* " Book oi Mormon," Jacob 2 : 33-39. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 229 
 
 Church in an article on " The Origin of Ameri- 
 can Polygamy," uses the above quotation omit- 
 ting the clause. In a reply by President Joseph 
 F. Smith of the Utah Church, as published in 
 the Arena for November, 1902, he says : 
 
 **The quotation of that clause would have taken 
 away the entire ground of his position. Contin- 
 uous and added revelation is one of the fundamental 
 doctrines of the Church established by Joseph 
 Smith, the Prophet. 
 
 Therefore, the notion that, because plural mar- 
 riage was not taught in the early days of the Church, 
 it was not declared in later times, is a fallacy, and 
 contrary to the very order and progress that are 
 essential features of the body. That some prin- 
 ciples and policies of the Church, even in the days 
 of its youth, were required to be kept back for a 
 period because of the hostility of the world, is in- 
 disputable when its history is perused.''" 
 
 A further explanation of this clause is given 
 by a Mormon polygamist as follows : 
 
 **God did not abominate David's and Solomon's 
 taking more wives than one each . . . He abom- 
 inated their abusing the privileges he gave them, in 
 taking women when and where they pleased without 
 consulting him in the matter. And in order that 
 the same thing might not prevail on the American 
 Continent, as they did at Jerusalem, the Lord gave a 
 general commandment, that all his people upon it 
 ** Arena, November, 1902. 
 
230 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORMONISM 
 
 should have one wife each, excepting he wished to 
 speedily raise up a people unto himself — then He 
 would command them ; 
 
 Otherwise, they were required to observe the one 
 wife system. ' ' " 
 
 When the command came to the Mormons to 
 take up the practice of the doctrine, as it did in 
 the revelation of Joseph Smith, they could do so 
 with perfect consistency. At least so they be- 
 lieve. To them " Polygamy is perfectly consist- 
 ent with the ' Book of Mormon.' " How about 
 the " Book of Doctrine and Covenants,'^ which 
 says: 
 
 ''Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been re- 
 proached with the crime of fornication, and polyg- 
 amy ; we declare that we believe that one man should 
 have one wife; and one woman but one husband, 
 except in case of death where either is at liberty to 
 marry again."" 
 
 The polygamists answer : 
 
 **If it read, *the crimes of fornication and polyg- 
 amy,' then you might justly have said that polyg- 
 amy was designated a crime, but as the passage now 
 stands you cannot reasonably say so. . . . 
 
 It says positively that, 'one man should have one 
 wife' — it does not say positively that, a man should 
 not have more than one wife, but it does say posi- 
 
 " Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 163. 
 
 •*" Doctrine and Covenants," (R), 111:3. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 231 
 
 tively that, 'one woman shall have but one hus- 
 band.' 
 
 No doubt you can now see, plainly, that the doc- 
 trine of plurality of wives, is perfectly consistent 
 with the Doctrine and Covenants. '''^ 
 
 The Keorganized Church, in attempting to 
 cast unfavorable reflection upon the Utah 
 Church, in charging them with a departure from 
 the " Books/' may be a little surprised to find 
 that the same charge was made against the 
 Church, and the Prophet Joseph, some time be- 
 fore his death. Note the following : 
 
 *' At the rise of the Church we had full faith in the 
 Jewish scriptures, 'Book of Mormon,' 'Doctrine and 
 Covenants' ... A new order of things is about 
 to be established which will come in contact with 
 our former statements and teachings . . . as we 
 have hinted at the spiritual wife system, or sealing 
 covenant, as we of late call it, this privilege is not 
 for all at present except by revelation, and we who 
 have entered into this covenant have to act cau- 
 tiously as the Gentile law is against us . . . 
 
 The revelation is, the more wives and children a 
 man has in this world, the more honor and glory he 
 will have in the eternal world. They will sit on 
 thrones and have dominion — creating and redeem-i 
 ing worlds. . . . Be it understood this marrying 
 is all for eternity. But when we find ourselves sur- 
 rounded by these fair virgins . . . What is to 
 be done? Must we break through these sectarian 
 '^Millennial Star^ Vol. 15, p. 164. 
 
232 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 notions? We answer yes! "We allow the privilege 
 to the faithful . . . but many of them are weak 
 in the faith giving heed to former teachings — say- 
 ing they are law abiding men, and believing in the 
 old books and former revelations. ' ' ^ 
 
 This statement was signed " By Authority of 
 the Twelve." It was written in derision by some 
 one who must have seen a copy of the polyga- 
 mous revelation, as it shows an acquaintance 
 with its teaching. So, the departure, if de- 
 parture it was, from the "Boolis" began at 
 Kauvoo, and was carried on in the continuance 
 of the Church in Utah. 
 
 In the face of all these facts, who dare say that 
 Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, was not the 
 instigator of Mormon polygamy? 
 
 From the Utah Mormon point of view the doc- 
 trine came in by falsehood and deceit of the 
 foulest kind. All the years from 1833 to 1852 
 the Mormons were accused of polygamy, or 
 something akin to it. During all these years 
 they denied it in every solemn manner known to 
 honest men, and after 1852 solemnly admitted 
 that all these years they had knowingly lied. 
 
 The disposition of the Reorganized Church at 
 first was to acknowledge the awful facts ; that a 
 revelation had been received by the Prophet; 
 that polygamy was the means or cause of the 
 
 *• Warsaw Signal, May 8, 1844. Files in New York Public 
 Library. 
 
MOEMON POLYGAMY 233 
 
 Prophet^s death and the disruption of the 
 Church. As time went on and the movement 
 grew, and the older men who knew the facts 
 were removed by death, the tremendous diffi.- 
 culty of making a moral impression out of such 
 an immoral background upon the world pressed 
 hard upon the leaders. To bear the shame of 
 following a Prophet guilty of the heinous sin of 
 teaching and practicing polygamy is a disgrace 
 few would want to assume. 
 
 Mr. Heman C. Smith, Church Historian, says : 
 
 *' Believing as we do that Joseph Smith was in- 
 strumental in God's hands in restoring the ancient 
 gospel, we prefer to believe that he remained faith- 
 ful and pursued the paths of honor and virtue unto 
 the end of his life."" 
 
 One cannot be guided in judgment upon such 
 a matter by mere preference. The facts are ac- 
 cessible, and by them we must be guided. 
 
 Polygamy is one of the foulest blots upon the 
 pages of American history. It revives a bar- 
 barous practice in the midst of a Christian 
 civilization; it turns love into lust; men into 
 despots and women into slaves; it desecrates 
 
 Note.— On pages 233-234, Book I, of "The Historical 
 Record," (U), appears the names of twenty-seven women 
 who claimed to be the spiritual or plural wives of Joseph 
 Smith the Prophet. 
 
 "Pamphlet, "Was Joseph Smith a Polygamist?" (R). 
 
234 THE FOUNDATIONS OF MOEMONISM 
 
 the family hearth ; it is contrary to the laws of 
 our physical and moral being ; it is a sin against 
 society and a crime against God. One poor Mor- 
 mon woman said of her experience in polygamy : 
 
 * * I have never seen a happy day or hour since my 
 husband's second marriage: I have never laid down 
 on my bed at night without drenching my pillow 
 with tears.'"" 
 
 Jesus warned His followers, " Beware of false 
 Prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, 
 but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye 
 shall know them by their fruits." "' Polygamy 
 was the crowning iniquity of all the iniquities 
 perpetrated by Joseph Smith, and this fruit of 
 his life and teaching stamps him as one of the 
 vilest of the false Prophets of ancient or modern 
 times. 
 
 '8" True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," p. 212. 
 " Matt. 7 : 15-16. 
 
xrv 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 IN the foregoing pages we have, very briefly, 
 set forth the fundamental facts in the 
 teaching and practices of the Mormon 
 system. 
 
 From the historical point of view we have 
 shown that there is a necessity for a careful re- 
 consideration of the sources of information; 
 that these sources have been edited by Mormon 
 historians ; that Mormon history throughout is 
 bad in character. 
 
 We have shown serious and vital defects in 
 the sacred books of this new religion. This is 
 of vital consequence on account of the fact that 
 all Mormons aflrm that the truth of their re- 
 ligion depends upon the successful testing of 
 the claims of these books. 
 
 We have examined the character of the 
 Prophet who founded this religion and we can- 
 not escape the conviction that he was false in 
 his pretensions, grossly immoral in his ideals, 
 wicked and malicious in his purposes, and ut- 
 terly unworthy to be recognized as a prophet of 
 Jehovah. 
 
 235 
 
236 CONCLUSION 
 
 In our treatment of Mormon doctrines we 
 have shown that there is one part prepared for 
 the public at large and another for those who 
 have accepted the system. 
 
 The Mormon organization is nothing less than 
 a great system of authority that moves at the 
 command of the Presidency of the Church. The 
 various attempts to carry out Zionistic schemes 
 were mistaken notions resulting in signal fail- 
 ures, and were a fruitful means of the exploita- 
 tion of the people by the leaders of the Church. 
 
 We have brought to light the significance of 
 the revelations of the Nauvoo Expositor. We 
 have shown that polygamy was begun at Nau- 
 voo ; that it was taught secretly and denied pub- 
 licly; that Joseph Smith is the leading person 
 responsible for it. 
 
 We have shown why the State of Missouri ex- 
 pelled the Mormons in 1838. This is very im- 
 portant in view of the place Missouri is destined 
 to hold in the future of Mormonism. 
 
 After a faithful consideration of the Mormon 
 and non-Mormon literature, we are constrained 
 to ask : What false charge has ever been made 
 against Mormonism? 
 
 What fearful apprehension on the part of the 
 people where it has been located has been with- 
 out foundation? Can such a faith continue its 
 life in our modern world? 
 
 It came forth claiming to be a restoration of 
 
CONCLUSION 237 
 
 Christianity, but the impression it has made is 
 distinctively anti-Christian. It is remarkable in 
 how many characteristics it is analogous to 
 Mohammedanism. 
 
 At Palmyra, New York, where it arose, it has 
 left no record to which even a Mormon could 
 point with pride. The Christian Churches in 
 that vicinity which it openly condemned are still 
 there ministering comfort and salvation to the 
 people.' What valuable contribution has Mor- 
 monism made to the world? Its reclamation of 
 the desert lands in Utah and vicinity and its 
 colonization schemes elsewhere have all been 
 purely in its selfish interest. Its aim is not to 
 make the world better but to make it Mormon. 
 Its missionary propaganda has not been for the 
 benefit of the nations, or the localities where it 
 has been conducted; it has been expressly for 
 the purpose of gathering out recruits to add 
 strength to the Mormon strongholds in the 
 West. 
 
 Hence the people of Mormonism are clannish 
 in character. According to the Mormon pro- 
 gram, their " Zion " should long since have been 
 established ; the saints gathered ; the wicked des- 
 troyed, and the world come to its end. 
 
 Condemning all manifestations of Christian- 
 ity, Mormonism has shown itself inconsistent by 
 
 *The Brick Presbyterian Church in Palmyra was built 
 in 1832, 
 
288 CONCLUSION 
 
 adopting many of the worn methods of Chris- 
 tian workers; its members sing hymns written 
 by Christians ; its Elders preach, quoting from 
 the Bible preserved to the world by Christians. 
 The interpretations they have made of the teach- 
 ings of the Bible have, in many instances, been 
 ridiculously ignorant and disgusting in the ex- 
 treme.' 
 
 Can Mormonism survive under the light of 
 intelligence, morality, rational religion, and 
 political equality? 
 
 We have little hope that the aged devotees of 
 Mormonism will ever consider a reconstruction 
 of their religious life. Whatever be their faith 
 they are confirmed in it. 
 
 For the young and rising generations we have 
 hope. To them we can say that Christianity is 
 superior to Mormonism on the basis of the four- 
 fold test of intelligence, morality, rational re- 
 ligion, and political equality. 
 
 We undertook the writing of this book in the 
 
 ' In order to prove that America is the place whence the 
 " Book of Mormon " is to come, the following is cited by a 
 Mormon elder : " The Prophet Isaiah describes in a graphic 
 manner the Western Continent : * Woe to the land shadowing 
 with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia' (Isa. 
 l8: i). First, The American continent is in the form of a 
 pair of wings. Second, It lies west, or beyond the rivers of 
 Ethiopia from where the prophet had his abode at Jerusa- 
 lem."— " Palmyra to Independence," (R), p. 6l. Any Bible 
 student should know this refers to Egypt and to its well- 
 known symbol, the winged sun or disk. How is North 
 America shaped like a wing? When did America send forth 
 vessels of "Bulrushes"? See Isa. 18:2. 
 
CONCLUSION 239 
 
 belief that the foundations of Mormonism could 
 and should be shaken. We have had no mali- 
 cious purpose in this. We would like to see the 
 faith, the energy and the zeal of all the Mormon 
 people turned to a higher ideal. We believe 
 there is a better foundation and we would like 
 to see their feet placed upon it. We hope that 
 what faith the Mormon people have in Jesus 
 Christ will far outweigh all their loyalty to 
 their Church leaders and their sacred books, re- 
 gardless of their claims. We hope the Mormon 
 people will be able to overcome the prejudice 
 which from childhood has been instilled in their 
 minds against all Christian Churches. That 
 prejudice they will find to be largely due to mis- 
 understanding and misrepresentation. 
 
 We believe that most of the Mormons are 
 thoroughly devoted to what they believe to be 
 true. We also know that for many of them to 
 accept Mormonism as a religion required a cour- 
 age that was almost superhuman. 
 
 If in the message and disclosures of this book 
 there comes a call for a further test of courage 
 to renounce what is false for the sake of that 
 which is true, let us hope that it may not be 
 wanting. 
 
 The truth must prevail, although 
 
 **one dreads dissent, 
 And fears a doubt as wrong.*' 
 
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BIBLIOGEAPHY 241 
 
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242 BIBLIOGRAPHY 
 
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 Printed in tht United States of America 
 

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 The foundations of Mormonism; a study of 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
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