The Doctrines of Joseph Smith. (continued 2)

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

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

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

"Salt Lake City, April 5, 1905.

"Joseph Smith, Esq., "Editor, 'The Saints' Herald,' "Lamoni, Iowa.

"My Dear Sir:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Yours truly, "THOMAS HULL."

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

WHO ORDAINED BRIGHAM YOUNG.

The following is from the Deseret News, May 11, 1907.

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

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

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

"And from this time forth I appoint unto him (Hyrum Smith) that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my Church as well as my servant Joseph.

"That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and gifts of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery."

From this revelation we learn that the Lord appointed Hyrum Smith both as Patriarch and to act in concert with his brother Joseph in the Presidency of the Church. In accordance with this revelation, Hyrum was so ordained January 24, 1841. This was not in the sense of a counselor to Joseph, for at this very appointment Hyrum was removed as counselor to the President and William Law was ordained in his stead.

Joseph and Hyrum continued to so act from this time forth until their martyrdom, June 27, 1844. Shortly before the martyrdom the Prophet tried with all his power to persuade Hyrum not to accompany him to Carthage, knowing full well the fate that awaited them there. Had Hyrum stayed behind, and thereby remained in mortality, he would, by virtue of his position and ordination received in 1841, have become the president of the Church. His brother intended that this should be (Times and Seasons, 5:683), but through his faithfulness to, and love for, his brother, Hyrum fell a martyr before the Prophet Joseph did.

Now mark! The Lord, who knew that Hyrum should receive a martyr's crown at Carthage, in the winter of 1843-4, commanded the Prophet to confer upon the heads of the Twelve Apostles, every key, power, and principle, that the Lord had sealed upon his head. The Prophet declared that he knew not why, but the Lord commanded him to endow the Twelve with these keys and Priesthood, and after it was done, he rejoiced very much, saying in substance, "Now, if they kill me, you have all the keys and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the powers of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up, and upon your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest." (Times and Seasons, 5:651).

In this manner the Prophet ordained the Twelve Apostles, which body constitutes the second quorum of the Church, equal in authority with the First Presidency. (Doc. & Cov. 107:23-24) with the keys of the kingdom, Brigham Young was president of the Twelve, and upon him devolved the duty of presiding.

Therefore, after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Twelve assumed by authority of their office, the duty to preside over the Church. Later, when through revelation the quorum of the First Presidency was reorganized with three presidents—Brigham Young and Counselors Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, they claimed, and rightfully, that since they were ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith and from him had received all the keys and powers of the Priesthood which the Prophet held, it would have been superfluous to have been ordained again. They were in this capacity, however, set apart and sustained by the unanimous vote of the Saints, which was essential to make such ordination of force in the Church.

There is an abundance of testimony to prove that the Prophet did so ordain the Twelve, some of which can be found in the Times and Seasons, volume 5, pages 651, 664, and 698; also in the Millennial Star, volume 10, page 115.

We repeat that Brigham Young received all the keys, powers, authority and Priesthood, that were held by Joseph Smith, that enabled him to preside over the High Priesthood, from the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo in the winter of 1843-4."

This important question was settled long ago by the entire body of the Saints who accepted the leadership of the Twelve, after the departure of the Prophet and Patriarch, and sustained President Young in his office. It was settled by the approval of the Almighty of the marvelous work He accomplished, and which could not have been done without divine aid and guidance. To ascribe the mighty deeds Brigham Young performed through the power of the divine Spirit which rested upon him, to the spirit that is the originator of succession, rebellion, apostasy, and falsehood, is to come dangerously near blasphemy. What is it but a repetition of the sin of the adversaries of our Lord who, although they knew that "no man can do the miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2): yet proclaimed to the people: "He hath an unclean spirit," (Mark 3:30). What is it but to assail the disciple with a weapon that was in vain directed against the Master? There was some excuse for difference of opinion on the subject of succession, immediately after the martyrdom, because the people were not in possession of full information, but there is no excuse now. To use a familiar illustration: At the time of an election citizens are expected to have different opinions as to candidates for office; they are expected to work for those whose views and principles they support. But when the question is settled at the polls, loyalty demands that all accept the verdict and work together for the common interests of the community. The body of the Latter-day Saints having accepted, as guided by the Holy Spirit, the leadership of the Twelve, there was no longer any valid reason for seeking the leadership of other shepherds.

The trouble with some of our "Reorganized" brethren is that they look upon the members of the Church as a flock of sheep, that, like other property, can be inherited. This is entirely contrary to the fundamental principles of the Gospel. The Church belongs to Christ. The leaders and officers are the servants of the Lord and the people of the Lord. It follows that the Lord raises up whoever He pleases, to perform the services necessary from time to time. Brigham Young was every way equipped for the peculiar work needed during his time. Who could have done what he did? Sidney Rigdon? Lyman Wight? James J. Strang? Or the founders of the so-called "Reorganized" Church? Let the reader reflect on the facts history records, and then decide for himself, remembering that every tree is known by its fruit.

Footnotes

1. This Priesthood and fulnesss can only be obtained in the Temple of God.

2. See Pamphlet by Hyrum O. Smith, "The Necessity for a Reorganization," pp. 22-24.

3. Saints' Herald, Vol. 56:662.

4. As an additional evidence that these things were revealed to the Prophet, attention is called to the patriarchal blessing given by his father and found on page 71:

"You shall even live to finish your work. At this Joseph cried out, weeping, 'Oh, my father, shall I?' 'Yes,' said his father, 'you shall live to lay out the plan of all the work which God has given you to do."

This proves, then, that the Lord revealed to him all these things promised in the revelations that had been kept hid. And he revealed them unto the Apostles.