Chapter 5 — One Man To Lead And Receive Revelations For The Church, Not According To The Teachings of Christ.
When Christ came into the world, the doctrine of a
one-man leader to the church was not taught by him, and we
are under his teachings in the written word. In the old
covenant in the Book of Mormon is a prophecy that a Choice
Seer is to come forth -- of the seed of Joseph, of the seed
of Lehi -- who is to bring forth the word of the Lord from
the sealed records of the Nephites, and convince the
Lamanites, and restore them and the house of Israel; his
work is not defined any farther than this. We suppose his
work will be defined in the records which he will hereafter
bring forth. We are told in 2 Nephi ii:17, Ether i:11, that
the sealed records are not to come forth in the days of
wickedness and abominations of the people. Then the more
wicked part of the people will be cut off before they are
brought forth. It may be as it was when Christ came to the
people on this continent. We are told in Ether i:11, that
the sealed records shall not go forth unto the Gentiles
until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and
become clean before the Lord, and have faith in him even as
the brother of Jared did. Again, it says this Choice Seer
will do strictly according to the commandments of God. This
means that he will be a holy man. We have seen from a
revelation given to Brother Joseph, that he broke the
commandments of God from the beginning. Now, as the wicked
will be cut off, the people being clean before the Lord, and
this Choice Seer being a holy man, the people in this
condition will be fitted to give heed to him, and they will
not be led astray by him, because the Word of God says so.
At the present time we are under the teachings of Christ in
the written word, and his teachings to us, the Book of
Mormon plainly tells us, are to be made known in the records
of the Jews (the Bible), and the Nephite records. All men
must come until him, or they cannot be saved; AND THEY MUST
COME ACCORDING TO THE WORDS WHICH SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY
THE MOUTH OF THE LAMB: AND THE WORDS OF THE LAMB SHALL BE
MADE KNOWN IN THE RECORDS OF THY SEED (THE NEPHITE RECORDS),
AS WELL AS IN THE RECORDS OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB
(the Bible); wherefore they both shall be established in
one. (1 Nephi iii:43.) All men must come to Christ according
to the words which shall be established by Christ, AND HIS
WORDS SHALL BE MADE KNOWN IN THE NEPHITE RECORDS AND THE
BIBLE. So the book of Doctrine and Covenants must be laid
down. Brethren, this scripture is very plain, and I hope
that none of you will attempt to wrest it to uphold the book
of Doctrine and Covenants. Then let us heed only the
teachings of Christ which we have, and discard the teachings
of Joseph Smith or any other man or angel which conflict
with Christ s teachings in the Bible and Book or Mormon: and
when more of the words of Christ come forth in the way that
it is appointed to come, from the sealed records, then we
will heed it also.
There is nothing in the New Testament part of either the
Bible or Book of Mormon concerning a one-man leader or head
to the church. Whoever claims that such an office should be
in the church today, goes beyond the teachings which Christ
has given us. As I have stated, we were strictly commanded
in the beginning to rely upon that which was written; and he
who goes beyond that which was then written, to the
revelations of Joseph Smith to establish any order or
doctrine in the church, must come under the head of those
whom Christ spoke of when he said, Whosoever teaches more or
less, etc., is not of me. This alone should satisfy anyone
who is not trusting in an arm of flesh. Who was Prophet Seer
and Revelator to the church at Jerusalem? They had none. Who
was Prophet Seer and Revelator to the church upon this land?
They had none. And we had no such an office in the church in
these last days for the first eight months of its existence,
until Brother Joseph went into this error on April 6, 1830,
and, after unwittingly breaking a command of God by taking
upon himself such an office, in a few years those
revelations were changed to admit this high office, which
otherwise would have condemned it. They were changed to mean
something entirely different from the way they were first
given and printed in the Book of Commandments; as if God had
not thought of this great and important office when he gave
those revelations. Yet in the face of the written word of
God, and in the face of all this evidence, the majority of
the Latter Day Saints will still cling to the revelations of
Joseph Smith and measure the written word of God by them,
instead of measuring Joseph Smith and his revelations by the
written word. Speaking after the manner of Paul to the
Galatians, so say I to you: O foolish Latter Day Saints * *
* I marvel, that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel; which is
not another, but the same gospel which some have perverted;
and though we, or an angel from heaven, or Joseph Smith,
preach any other gospel unto you than that which Christ gave
us in the beginning, receive it not. (See Gal. i:6-9).
In the Church of Christ at Jerusalem, and upon this land,
the members all received the revealed will of God for
themselves, through the various gifts of the Holy Ghost; by
dreams, visions, the visitation of Angels, the gift of
prophecy, through themselves or any brother; and the Holy
Ghost that was in them always discerning whether the
revelation was of God or not. They had no Prophet Seer and
Revelator to go to when they desired to know the will of the
Lord concerning them; they went to the Lord themselves;
sometimes alone, and sometimes several of them together in
fasting and prayer. Of course I believe that God reveals his
will to his servants in these last days, just as in days of
old, but I believe in it according to the scriptures of
divine truth. In the Church upon the Eastern continent,
after Christ had ascended to His Father' s throne and left
the work with his disciples to carry on, they went to God
for themselves, each and all of them receiving the will of
God by the various gifts of the Holy Ghost. Paul, Peter,
Barnabas, Philip and others went here and there preaching,
every one receiving revelations from God for themselves, by
dreams, visions, the gift of prophecy, etc. They had no head
of the Church on earth to go to. Christ told them that the
Holy Ghost -- the Comforter -- that would abide with them
and with all his disciples, would guide them and lead them
into all truth and show them things to come. If any man
lacks wisdom, and desires to know the will of the Lord
concerning himself, let him ask of God for himself, not ask
of the Prophet Seer and Revelator to inquire of the Lord for
him.
Just after Christ had established his church upon this land
and ascended into heaven, there were disputations among the
Nephite brethren on one point; that was the name by which
they must call the church. The brethren did not go to a
Prophet Seer and Revelator to get him to inquire of the Lord
about this matter; Christ had not so instructed them. They
had no such an officer in the church. They went to God in
prayer and fasting, and received an answer to their prayers,
and it was not through any head or leader to the church, but
Christ himself.
Brethren, this high office as you have it, is of far more
importance than any other office in the church. Now do you
not suppose that if Christ meant for such an office to be in
the church today, that full instructions would have been
given in his teachings about it? As you know we were
commanded in the beginning to rely upon that which is
written. Such an office in Christ s teachings in either book
is not even mentioned; but I need not rehearse the matter. I
cannot make it any more plain. As I have said, you have the
scriptures before you, and if you will wrest them it shall
be to your own destruction. This matter of a one-man
mouthpiece of God to the church, has proven the great curse
of the work of God in these last days. It is through this
instrumentality that Satan has many thousand souls deluded.
A man who was weak and unstable from the time God called
him, set himself up as Prophet and Seer to the church, and
the church to receive his words as if from God' s own mouth.
Such a thing is contrary to the Spirit and truths of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Look at the one hundred and fifty
thousand deluded souls in Utah, believing in a revelation
given through this man that we are to exalted to the highest
glory in the world to come, through spiritual wifeism; also
the twenty thousand or more souls who are blinded to believe
in the revelations of this man who has introduced doctrines
into the church that conflict with the written word of God.
As it was in the days of ancient Israel and in the days of
the Apostles, so it is in this day. Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the Lord. Jer. xvii:5.
Chapter 6 — The Doctrine
of Christ All Contained in the Two Sacred Books.
Some of the Latter Day Saints have claimed that as the Book
of Mormon is an abridgement of the Nephite records, it does
not contain all the doctrine of Christ, hence the need of
the revelations of Joseph Smith. All who make this claim are
in error, as Christ himself says, (Nephi ix:11), that his
doctrine is contained in the Book of Mormon. In speaking of
the Book of Mormon he says, that when these things shall be
made known unto the Gentiles, that they might know of the
true points of my doctrine. We have also see in the previous
chapter, that the words and doctrine of Christ are to be
made known in the Bible and in the Nephite records. Now
brethren, these scriptures are as plain as can be; they need
no comments of mine to make them any more plain. The
Doctrine and Covenants do not claim to have been translated
from the records of Nephi 's seed -- the sealed records.
This plain scripture should and will be sufficient to
convince any person without prejudice, that the Doctrine and
Covenants should be discarded as a law of God to the church.
The doctrine of Christ always was and will be the same. The
Book of Mormon tells us that the sealed records yet to come
forth will contain great mysteries of things that are to
transpire before the end of the world; but this is another
thing outside of the gospel or doctrine of Christ. Paul says
that if an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto
you, let him be accursed. The teachings or doctrine of
Christ as set forth in the Book of Mormon are full and
plain. Mormon says, "and now there cannot be written in this
book even the hundredth part of the things which Jesus did
truly teach the people." Of course this means all the words
that Jesus taught or spoke to them, including the great
mysteries of things to take place in the future, which
mysteries the Lord forbade them to write. John also says of
the things which Jesus truly did and taught, the which, if
they should be written every one, I suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the books that should be
written." (John xxi:25). But is any one so blind as to
understand from this language that the doctrine of Christ,
or as we use the expression, the teachings of Christ, are
not contained in full in the Bible and in Book of Mormon? No
spiritual man would so interpret this scripture.
In June, 1829, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and myself,
received this commandment through the stone, "Behold, I give
unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which
are written (then, at that time, June, 1829), for in them
are all things written concerning my church, my gospel, and
my rock." This revelation reads this way today in the old
Book of Commandments. But the Latter Day saints changed it
in 1834 to read different in the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants. The revelations received through the stone in
1829, agree with the teachings of Christ in the Bible and
Book of Mormon; but in order to support the errors which
were afterwards introduced by men, some of the early
revelations have been changed and added to, as I will show
you in another chapter. In order to uphold these errors,
your leaders claim that as the Book of Mormon is an
abridgement of the Nephite records, containing only a small
part of the things which Christ said and did, that it does
not contain all the doctrines, laws, ordinances and offices
which Christ meant to be in the church; therefore Brother
Joseph's revelations are needed to establish other
doctrines, laws, ordinances and offices that Christ left out
of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and out of the
revelations when God first gave them in 1829. Oh the
weakness and folly of man! How any person can be so blind in
the face of all this evidence, as to still uphold the Book
of Doctrine and Covenants, is more than I can understand.
But there are none so blind as those who will not see.
You have changed the revelations from the way they were
first given and as they are today in the Book of
Commandments, to support the error of Brother Joseph in
taking upon himself the office of Seer to the church. You
have changed the revelations to support the error of high
priests. You have changed the revelations to support the
error of a President of the high priesthood, high
counselors, etc. You have altered the revelations to support
you in going beyond the plain teachings of Christ in the new
covenant part of the Book of Mormon. You have changed and
altered the revelations to support the error of publishing
those revelations in a book: the errors you are in,
revelations have been changed to support and uphold them.
You who are now living did not change them, but you who
strive to defend these things, are as guilty in the sight of
God as those who did change them.
As I have stated, I am called to bear testimony that the
Bible, as well as the Book of Mormon, is true: and no one
should place the one book ahead of the other; they are one!
The Book of Mormon tells us that many plain things have been
taken from the Bible, so that the Gentiles stumble and
contend about the true points of Christ's doctrine. It says
that the Book of Mormon has been kept pure, and come forth
pure so as to make plain the doctrine of Christ; that we
might know of the true points of his doctrine.
Is it not plain that we should rely upon it on all doctrinal
points, and the order of offices in the church? It certainly
is, and this is not placing it ahead of the Bible. The Book
of Mormon is full and plain on the doctrine of Christ.
Christ chose "twelve" and called them disciples, or elders
(not apostles); and the "twelve" ordained elders, priests,
and teachers. These are all the spiritual offices in the
church: that is, the officers who are ordained to officiate
in spiritual ordinances; as baptism, laying on of hands for
the gift of the Holy Ghost; ordaining other officers,
administering the Lord s supper, etc. The office of a Bishop
is to administer in temporal things. He is the business man
of the church. The church has a right to appoint officers
who act in a temporal capacity; this is outside of the
spiritual offices. We see that the disciples at Jerusalem
appointed temporal officers. Acts vi:2-3: Then the twelve
called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said:
It is notreason that we should leave the word of God and
serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you
seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and
wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." So they
appointed the seven deacons.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues." (1 Cor. xii:28). The Latter Day Saints stumble
over this passage, and it is strange that they do. Paul is
not referring here to all the officers in the church. The
office of an Elder is not named. He refers to miracles,
gifts of healing, diversities of tongues, and these are not
offices in the Church. He is referring here to the gifts, as
you can see plainly by reading the chapter. He says at the
conclusion of this, in the thirtyfirst verse, "But covet
earnestly the best gifts." In the New Testament it speaks of
evangelists, pastors, teachers, helps, governments, etc. Are
we to suppose from this, that we are now to establish
offices in the Church under those respective names of helps,
pastors, governments, etc.? Not at all. These names come to
us thus translated. Concerning the spiritual offices in the
church, Elders, Priests and Teachers, with their duties as
given in the Book of Mormon, they comprise the officers who
are qualified to act in all spiritual matters, and there is
no need of any more spiritual offices than these in the
church, as we can plainly see from the scriptures.
The Book of Mormon is full concerning all spiritual matters
pertaining to the Church of Christ. Instructions are given
as to the manner of baptism, laying on of hands, the manner
of administering the flesh and blood of Christ; that the
church must meet together oft to fast and to pray and to
speak concerning the welfare of of their souls; how the
meeting should be conducted; how a backsliding member is to
be tried, before the Elders by the testimony of three
witnesses, and if they repented not, they were to be cut
off, etc., etc. It is all set forth therein in plainness,
and we have no need of the Doctrine and Covenants or any
other creed.
The twelve at Jerusalem are called in the written word
"Apostles." They are apostles because they were special
witnesses to the sufferings of Christ, his death, burial and
resurrection: but the twelve which Christ chose on this land
are called disciples or elders, and are not once called
apostles in the Book of Mormon. In the revelation which came
through the stone in June, 1829, to Oliver Cowdery and
myself to search out the twelve, they are also called
disciples, and not apostles; and the revelation says
"disciples" in the Book of Commandments today. But it has
been changed in the Doctrine and Covenants to read
"apostles." The heading to this revelation in the Book of
Commandments says: Making known the calling of twelve
'Disciples' in these last days. "In the Doctrines and
Covenants to reads: "Making known the calling of twelve
'Apostles' in these last days." In 1 Nephi iii:26, where
reference is made to the twelve at Jerusalem and the twelve
upon this land, each twelve are called by their respective
names: "Behold the twelve 'Disciples' of the Lamb, who are
chosen to minister unto thy seed. And he (the angel) said
unto me, thou remembereth the twelve 'Apostles' of the Lamb?
Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of
Israel: wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be
judged of them. The twelve on this land are called
disciples, and not in any place are they called apostles.
When Christ was teaching the twelve on this land, in giving
them instructions He refers to the way His twelve apostles
did at Jerusalem in the laying on of hands, saying to them:
For thus do mine apostles."
In 1 Cor. xii:28, it says: "And God hath set some in the
church, first apostles, secondarily prophets," etc. He did
so, placing the twelve apostles first, which he chose at
Jerusalem: they are to judge the twelve tribes of Israel,
and they are to judge the twelve disciples whom Christ chose
on this land among the Nephites. Therefore, we see from the
written word that there is only one twelve who are called
apostles, and that they are placed first.
When it is God's own due time to gather up the scattered
fragments of his kingdom which has been laid waste by men,
then we suppose that God will place at the head of his
church twelve disciples; but we of the Church of Christ will
not place them there, unless God so commands us. This is
Gods' work and not man's work. We do not believe in twelve
manmade disciples.
I consider the Book of Doctrine and Covenants a creed of
religious faith. You can see from the first edition
(Kirtland, 1835) that men, on the authority of other men,
and no authority from God, arranged the items of the
doctrine of Jesus Christ in that book, and in August, 1835,
adopted it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith by a
unanimous vote of the high council, thus making it a law to
the church for the first time. To these proceedings I
objected from the first, as I also did to changing the name
of the church. Why should they not have been satisfied with
the way that God has arranged the items of his doctrine in
his Holy Word? What authority had they for making a creed? I
will quote from the Kirtland edition of the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants of 1835, and you can see for yourselves that
what I say is correct. Quotation from the preface: "We deem
it to be unnecessary to entertain you with a lengthy preface
to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains
in short the leading items of the religion which we have
professed to believe. The first part of the book will be
found to contain a series of lectures as delivered before a
theological class in this place, and, in consequence of
their embracing the important doctrine of salvation, we have
arranged them into the following work. * * * There may be an
aversion in the minds of some against receiving anything
purporting to be articles of religious faith, in consequence
of there being so many CREEDS now extant; but if men believe
a system and profess that it was given by inspiration,
certainly the more intelligibly they can present it the
better. * * * We have, therefore, endeavored to present,
though in few words, OUR belief, and, when we say this,
humbly trust the faith and principles of this society as a
body."
Where is their authority from God for making this creed, and
making it a law to the church? I will now quote from pages
255 and 256 of the same book: The assembly being duly
organized, and, after transacting certain business of the
church, proceeded to appoint a committee to ARRANGE THE
ITEMS OF DOCTRINE OF JESUS CHRIST. * * * These items are to
be taken from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the revelations
which have been given to said church up to its date, or
shall be until such arrangement is made. * * * Whereupon the
High Council of Kirtland accepted and acknowledged them as
the doctrine and covenants of their faith by a unanimous
vote." It was here made a law to the church for the first
time. So we see that their whole proceedings were upon their
own authority -- upon the authority of men and not God.
Also, that the Doctrine and Covenants is a creed, as much so
as any sectarian creed.
Some of the Latter Day Saints claim that the Doctrine and
Covenants is one of the Books spoken of in Nephi's vision,
which he saw taken to the Lamanites from the Gentiles. (1
Nephi iii:42.) How anyone can so interpret that scripture is
more than I can understand; because it says on the same
page, that those "Books" (records) contained the words that
Christ spake unto the Nephites, which words should be hid
up, to come forth to the Gentiles, after the Nephites had
dwindled in unbelief. Nephi saw "other Books" taken to the
Lamanites, after the Bible was taken to them. The Book of
Mormon is one of those books, but the other is yet to come
forth from the Nephite records, which are yet hid up and
sealed. It is to come to the Gentiles, and they will carry
it and the Book of Mormon to the Lamanites, to the
convincing of the Gentiles, the Lamanites and the Jews. Now,
how is it that anyone can claim the Doctrine and Covenants
as being one of those "Books ?" The Book of Doctrine and
Covenants itself does not claim to be the words of the
Nephite record which are hid up. The Book of Mormon was
translated from those records, and more is yet to be
translated from them, but it will not come forth in the days
of wickedness (2 Nephi xi:17. Ether i:11). I will quote the
scripture relating to the "other Books" which Nephi saw in
his vision. It is very plain. (1 Nephi iii:41-42). The
angel, talking to Nephi, says: "Behold, saith the Lamb, I
will manifest myself unto thy seed (the Nephites), that they
shall write many things which I shall minister unto them,
which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall
be destroyed and dwindle in unbelief, and also the see of
thy brethren; behold, these things shall be hid up, to come
forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb;
and in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and
my rock and my salvation; * * * * (same page) And it came to
pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren
(the Lamanites), and also the Book of the Lamb of God, which
had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew (the Bible),
that it came forth from the Gentiles, unto the remnant of
the seed of my brethren; and after it had come forth unto
them (the Lamanites), I beheld OTHER BOOKS, which came forth
by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto
the convincing of the Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed
of my brethren, and also the Jews, who were scattered upon
all the face of the earth," etc.
Now brethren, words cannot be plainer than this scripture,
and it shows that the Book of Doctrine and Covenants is not
one of those books. It is strange to me, why the heads of
your church will attempt to prove that the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants is one of those books here spoken of, as they
are to come from sealed records which are yet hid up.
Chapter 7 — Relative to
Publishing the Revelations.
Publishing the early revelations, or any of them, was
contrary to the will of the Lord, as I will show you from
the revelations themselves. The revelations in the Book of
Commandments up to June, 1829, were given through the
"stone", through which the Book of Mormon was translated.
These are the only revelations that can be relied upon, and
they are not law. The Lord told us not to teach them for
doctrine; they were given mostly to individuals, the persons
whom God chose in commencing His work for their individual
instruction, and the church had no need of them. They should
have been kept with the sacred papers and records of the
church, and never published in a book to become public
property for the eyes of the world. It was not necessary for
the whole church to ever see them. The written word is full
on all matters pertaining to the Church of christ. Of course
I believe in God revealing His will to His servants in these
days, by the various gifts of the Holy Ghost; but I believe
in it according to the Scriptures. In the revelations
themselves are positive commands to keep these things from
the world, that they are sacred, etc. A revelation was given
to Oliver Cowdery in April, 1829, (Sec. v:11, 13), in which
he is told that he would be granted a gift "to translate
even as my servant Joseph," warning him as follows:
"Remember, it is sacred, and cometh from above. * * * *
Trifle not with sacred things. * * * * Make not thy gift
known unto any, save it be those who are of thy faith." But
they published these things in a book, and made them known
to the world!
In a revelation to Martin Harris (Sec. 18) concerning
endless punishment, are these words: "And I command you that
you preach naught but repentance; and show not these things,
neither speak these things unto the world, for they cannot
bear meat, but milk they must receive: wherefore, they must
not know these things, lest they perish." This revelation
reads as I have quoted it, in the Book of Commandments; but
in the Doctrine and Covenants it has been changed to read
thus: "Show not these things unto the world, until it is
wisdom in me." The words, "until it is wisdom in me," were
added to this revelation. You see they had to add these
words in order to publish the revelations. Judge for
yourselves, brethren: I will make no farther comments to
magnify the errors of the leaders of the church. My policy
throughout will be to speak of no more of their errors than
is necessary in order to prove all false doctrines as being
false, and establishing the doctrine of Christ as it is set
forth in the written word.
The main reason why the printing press was destroyed, was
because they published the Book of Commandments. It fell
into the hands of the world, and the people of Jackson
county, Missouri, saw from the revelations that they were
considered by the church as intruders upon the land of Zion,
as enemies to the church, and that they should be cut off
out of the land of Zion and sent away. The people seeing
these things in the Book of Commandments became the more
enraged, tore down the printing press, and drove the church
out of Jackson county. (See Doc. and Cov., Sections 52 : 9,
64 : 7, 45 : 15.) Which is the land of your inheritance.
Which is now the land of your enemies. And the rebellious
shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent
away, and shall not inherit the land. "And now I say unto
you, keep these things from going abroad unto the world,
until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this
work in the eyes of the people, and in the eyes of your
enemies, that they may not know your works until ye have
accomplished the thing which I have commanded you." This is
sufficient. I will quote no more to show you that the
leaders made a mistake in publishing the revelations in a
book. It is too plain. Brethren, does it not look strange
that they should have been so blind as to go ahead and
publish these revelations in the face of this plain language
to keep these things from the world? It surely does look
strange.
I will now tell you of a prophecy which the Lord gave
through me to Brothers Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon, of
what should come to pass if they printed those revelations.
In the spring of 1832, in Hiram, Ohio, Brothers Joseph and
Sydney, and others, concluded that the revelations should be
printed in a book. A few of the brethren -- including myself
-- objected to it seriously. We told them that if the
revelations were published, the world would get the books,
and it would not do; that it was not the will of the Lord
that the revelations should be published. But Brothers
Joseph and Sydney would not listen to us, and said they were
going to send them to Independence to be published. I
objected to it and withstood Brothers Joseph and Sydney to
the face. Brother Joseph said as follows: "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." The Spirit of God came upon me and I prophesied to
them in the name of the Lord: "That if they sent those
revelations to Independence to be published in a book, the
people would come upon them and tear down the printing
press, and the church would be driven out of Jackson
county." Brothers Joseph and Sydney laughed at me. Early in
the spring of 1833, at Independence, Mo., the revelations
were printed in the Book of Commandments. Many of the books
were finished and distributed among the members of the
church, and through some of the unwise brethren, the world
got hold of some of them. From that time the ill-feeling
toward us began to increase; and in the summer of 1833 the
mob came upon us, tore down the printing press, and drove
the church out of Jackson county. Brothers Joseph and Sydney
then saw that I did have some of the Spirit of God, after my
prophecy had been fulfilled. To show you that Brother Joseph
and myself still loved each other as brethren after this, I
will tell you that he had so much confidence in me that in
July, 1834, he ordained me his successor as "Prophet Seer
and Revelator" to the Church. He did this of his own free
will and not at any solicitation whatever on my part. I did
not know what he was going to do until he laid his hands
upon me and ordained me.
Now, bear in mind, brethren, that I am not claiming this
office; as I have told you, I do not believe in any such an
office in the church. I was then in error in believing that
there was such an office in the Church of Christ. I suppose
this is news to many of you -- that Brother Joseph ordained
me his successor -- but it is in your records, and there are
men now living who were present in that council of elders
when he did it, in the camp of Zion, on Fishing River,
Missouri, July, 1834.
This is why many of the brethren came to me after Brother
Joseph was killed, and importuned me to come out and lead
the church. I refused to do so. Christ is the only leader
and head of his church.
Now, brethren, I will ask you to read the early revelations
that were given through the stone, up to June, 1829, and see
if this matter is not just as I have told you; that they --
or any other revelations -- should never have been
published, thus necessarily becoming public property for the
eyes of the world. Also notice that they were given to
individuals, to those whom God chose in commencing his work,
for their individual instruction, and were not given to the
church, and the church had no need of them. In the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants they are sections 2 to 16, inclusive.
The headings over sections 4 and 7 are not like they are in
the Book of Commandments, in which the headings show that
they were also given to individuals. Section 4 is a
revelation given to Joseph Smith and Martin Harris. Section
7 is a revelation given to Oliver Cowdery.
Now, bear in mind that these revelations were given through
the "stone," while the Book of Mormon was being translated.
The revelations in June, 1829, were given about the time the
translation of the book was finished. As I have stated
before, Brother Joseph gave up the stone a few months after
translating the Book of Mormon. You can see from the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants that the next revelation after June,
1829, is March, 1830, a period of nine months, and we had
been preaching since August, 1829. Now you notice that when
the revelations began to come again, at the end of this nine
months (this time through Brother Joseph as "mouthpiece"),
they came thick and fast, and are of a different character
to those given through the stone, which were given to
individuals for their individual instruction in commencing
the work.
Chapter 8 — The Changes
and Additions to Some of the Revelations.
Some of the revelations as they are now in the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants have been changed and added to. Some
of the changes being of the greatest importance as the
meaning is entirely changed on some very important matters;
as if the Lord had changed his mind a few years after he
gave the revelations, and after having commanded his
servants (as they claim) to print them in the "Book of
Commandments;" and after giving his servants a revelation,
being a preface until His Book of Commandments, which says:
"Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my
servants, and my preface unto the Book of my Commandments,
which I have given them to publish unto you, oh inhabitants
of the earth." Also in this preface, "Behold, I am God, and
have spoken it; these commandments are of me. Search these
commandments, for they are true and faithful." The
revelations were printed in the Book of Commandments
correctly. This I know, and will prove it to you.
These revelations were arranged for publication by Brothers
Joseph Smith, Sydney Rigdon, Orson Hyde and others, in
Hiram, Ohio, while I was there, were sent to Independence to
be published, and were printed just exactly as they were
arranged by Brother Joseph and the others. And when the Book
of Commandments was printed, Joseph and the church received
it as being printed correctly. This I know. In the winter of
1834 they saw that some of the revelations in the Book of
Commandments had to be changed, because the heads of the
church had gone too far, and had done things in which they
had already gone ahead of some of the former revelations. So
the book of Doctrine and Covenants was printed in 1835, and
some of the revelations changed and added to. By the
providence of God I have one of the old Book of Commandments
published in 1833. I will prove by a revelation in it, which
is changed in the Doctrine and Covenants, a revelation that
was given through the "stone" and is true -- I will prove
that God called Brother Joseph to translate the Book of
Mormon only, and that he was not called to organize and
establish the church any more than the rest of us Elders.
That God commanded him that he should pretend to no other
gift but to translate the Book of Mormon, that God would
grant him no other gift.
I will also show by a revelation in the Book of Commandments
-- afterwards changed in the Doctrine and Covenants -- that
we were commanded to rely upon the "things which are
written" in building up the church; for "in them are all
things written concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock.
Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, my gospel, and
my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
But we did not rely upon the written word in building up the
church; but Joseph went on in the persuasions of men," -- as
he did while translating, and heeded Rigdon who showed him
that high priests and other offices should be added to
elders, priests and teachers; and so we did not establish
His (Christ's) church, His gospel and His rock, so the gates
of hell did prevail against the church, and it finally
landed in Salt Lake in polygamy.
I will also show you by a revelation in the Book of
Commandments -- afterwards changed in the Doctrine and
Covenants -- that we had no high priests, etc. in the
beginning; as if God had organized his church at first with
elders, priests and teachers, and after we had preached
almost two years, and had baptized and confirmed about 2000
souls into the Church of Christ, then God concluded he had
not organized it right, and decided to put in high priests
and other offices above the office of an elder. No brethren
-- God does not change and work in any such manner. This is
man's work. I will prove beyond a doubt that every spiritual
office added to the church which is not according to the
teachings of Christ to the "twelve" on this land, is the
work of man, and not the work of God.
I see that some of you claim that the same power which gave
these revelations, had authority to change them, and refer
to Jer. xxxvi:32. By reading this passage you will see that
the words which were added were "like words;" words which
conveyed the same meaning -- were added to that book by
Jeremiah when he was writing it over again, because it had
been burned in the fire by the king. But the words added to
the two former revelations are not "like words," as they
change and reverse the original meaning: as if God had
commanded Joseph to pretend to no other gift but to
translate the Book of Mormon, that he would "grant him no
other gift," and then afterwards God had changed his mind
and concluded to grant him another gift. God does not change
and work in this manner. The way this revelation has been
changed, twenty-two words being added to it, it would appear
that God had broken His word after giving His word in
plainness; commanding Brother Joseph to pretend to no other
gift but to translate the Book of Mormon, and then the Lord
had changed and concluded to grant Joseph the gift of a Seer
to the Church.
This part of this revelation in the Book of Commandments
reads thus: "And he (Joseph) has a gift to translate the
Book and I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no
other gift, for I will grant him no other gift."
But in the Doctrine and Covenants it has been changed and
reads thus:
"And you have a gift to translate the plates, and this is
the first gift that I bestowed upon you, and I have
commanded you that you should pretend to no other gift,
until my purpose is fulled in this; for I will grant unto
you no other gift until it is finished".
May God have mercy on the heads of the church for their
transgression is my prayer.
This revelation is Section 4, Doctrine and Covenants: Chap.
4, Book of Commandments.
The next important change I will speak of, is made in a
revelation which was given to Brothers Joseph Smith, Oliver
Cowdery, and myself in Fayette, New York, June, 1829. I was
present when Brother Joseph received it through the stone.
It is Chapter 15 Book of Commandments, Sec. 16 Doctrine and
Covenants. In the Book of Commandments it reads thus:
"Behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon
the things which are written; for in them are all things
written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock.
Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel,
and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against
you."
But in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants it has been
changed and reads thus: "Behold I give unto you a
commandment, that you rely upon the things which are
written; for in them are all things written, concerning 'the
foundation of ' my church, my gospel, and my rock;
wherefore, if you shall build up my church 'upon the
foundation of ' my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell
shall not prevail against you."
The change in this revelation is of great importance; the
word "them" refers to the plates -- the Book of Mormon: We
were commanded to rely upon it in building up the church;
that is, in establishing the doctrine, the order of offices,
etc.: "FOR IN THEM ARE ALL THINGS WRITTEN CONCERNING MY
CHURCH, my gospel, and my rock." But this revelation has
been changed by man to mean as follows: That therein is not
all things written concerning the church, but only all
things concerning "the foundation of " the church -- or the
beginning of the church: that you must build up the church,
beginning according to the written word, and add new
offices, new ordinances, and new doctrines as I (the Lord)
reveal them to you from year to year: As a Seer to the
Church; High Priests; Three of the First Presidency; Baptism
for the Dead; Polygamy, etc., etc. When the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants was compiled in 1834, the church had then
received many revelations to establish new offices and
doctrines that are not even mentioned in the New Covenant of
either of the two sacred books. They changed this revelation
in order to sustain these new doctrines: If they had not
made this change, the plain language of the original
revelation would have condemned the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants. I want to repeat that I was present when Brother
Joseph received this revelation through the stone: I am one
of the persons to whom it was given, therefore I know of a
surety that it was changed when printed in the Doctrine and
Covenants in 1834. Likewise, concerning all these changes of
which I will speak, I know that these changes were made. I
was present when nearly all the early revelations were
received. There are several of the old Books of Commandments
yet in the land; bring them to light and see for yourselves
that these revelations were changed just as I tell you.
These changes were made by the leaders of the church, who
had drifted into error and spiritual blindness. Through the
influence of Sydney Rigdon, Brother Joseph was led on and on
into receiving revelations every year, to establish offices
and doctrines which are not even mentioned in the teachings
of Christ in the written word. In a few years they had gone
away ahead of the written word, so that they had to change
these revelations, as you will understand when I have
finished.
The next important change I will notice, is in a revelation
given to Martin Harris, March, 1830, (Chap. 16 Book of
Commandments, Sec.. 18 Doctrine and Covenants). In the Book
of Commandments it reads thus: "And I command you that you
preach nought but repentance; and show not these things
until the world, for they cannot bear meat, but milk they
must receive: Wherefore, they must not know these things
lest they perish."
But in the Book of Doctrines and Covenants it has been
changed and reads as follows:
"And I command you that you preach nought but repentance,
and show not these things unto the world, 'until it is
wisdom in me,' etc." The words "until it is wisdom in me"
have been added.
As I have stated in the previous chapter, you can readily
see why they made this change.
The next change of importance is in a revelation given in
Fayette, New York, June, 1830. It was not given through the
stone. (Chap. 4., Book of Commandments, Sec. 17, Doctrine
and Covenants). The change or addition to this revelation is
of such a bold character, that the compilers of the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants put it in that book without the
heading, which is over it in the Book of Commandments, which
heading shows it to be a revelation. They have put it in the
Doctrine and Covenants as "Section 17," but it is a
revelation. The old church papers speak of it as a
revelation, and the heading in the Book of Commandments
shows that it is a revelation. I was present when Brother
Joseph gave this revelation.
The heading over it in the Book of Commandments is as
follows: "The Articles and Covenants of the Church of
Christ, given in Fayette, New York, June, 1830." Two
paragraphs have been added to it, having been thrust into
the middle of it: Paragraphs 16 and 17 is the part added,
which part speaks of high priests and other high offices
that the church never knew of until almost two years after
its beginning: As if God had made a mistake in the first
organization of the church, and left out these high
important offices which are all above an elder; and as if
God had made a mistake and left these high offices out of
that revelation when it was first given. Oh the weakness and
blindness of man! This revelation as it is in the Book of
Commandments, speaks of the duties of all the spiritual
officers in the church; of elders, priests and teachers; but
does not mention a word about the office of high priest,
president of the high priesthood, high counselors, etc. The
part added to this revelation was put there to give the
duties of these high officers in ordinations. I repeat that
the church never heard of or thought of having in it any of
these offices, until we moved to Kirtland, Ohio, in the days
of Sidney Rigdon. The Church of Christ upon either continent
had no such offices in it, and Christ told us through the
stone that he would establish his church "LIKE UNTO THE
CHURCH WHICH WAS TAUGHT BY MY DISCIPLES IN THE DAYS OF OLD."
* * * "If the people of this generation harden not their
hearts." (Chap. 4., Par. 5, Book of Commandments).
Now brethren, the Church of Christ of old had in it only
elders, priests and teachers; but the Church of Latter Day
Saints, with its many new offices, doctrines, and ordinances
which were not in the Church of Christ of old, is a very
different church -- a different order throughout. This is
plain to be seen. Why, oh why will you continue to trust in
the man who has erred and introduced doctrines of error into
the Church of Christ? Why will you continue in blindness?
But modern Israel is no better than ancient Israel. Man will
not walk humbly before God and abide in his ordinances,
although he has given them his word in great plainness. You
are in spiritual blindness and you know it not.
I will now quote the two paragraphs which have been added to
the revelation above mentioned:
"No person is to be ordained to any office in this church,
where there is a regularly organized branch of the same,
without the vote of that church; but the presiding elders,
traveling bishops, high counselors, high priests and elders,
may have the privilege of ordaining, where there is no
branch of the church, that a vote may be called. Every
president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder),
bishop, high counselor and high priest, is to be ordained by
the direction of a high council, or general conference."
In all the teachings of Christ, these high offices are not
even mentioned as being in the Church of Christ.
There are other changes in this revelation, but this is the
only change of importance.
The next change I will notice is one of importance. It is in
Section 4, Doctrine and Covenants: Chapter 4, Book of
Commandments. Half of a page has been left out of this
revelation. I believe that the object of those who left it
out was to strike out the following words:
"And thus, if the people of this general harden not their
hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put
down all lyings, etc., * * * * and I will establish my
church, LIKE UNTO THE CHURCH WHICH WAS TAUGHT BY MY
DISCIPLES IN THE DAYS OF OLD."
They knew that the order of offices in the Church of Latter
Day Saints, was not like the order in the Church of Christ
of old; because the Church of Christ of old had in it only
elders, priests and teachers: so they left out this part of
the revelation when they published the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants.
There are many other changes in the revelations, but I will
not take the space and time to speak of any more of them.
I want to tell the brethren, that when the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants was published, and presented 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. A few members dissented from
the church as early as 1832, on account of the spiritual
blindness of some of the leaders. When it became generally
known that these important changes had been made in the
doctrine and Covenants, 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 majority of the members -- poor weak souls --
thought that anything Brother Joseph would do, must be all
right; so in their blindness of heart, trusting in an arm of
flesh, they looked over it and were led into error, and
finally all talk about it ceased. I was told that Sidney
Rigdon was the cause of those changes being made: by smooth
talk he convinced Brother Joseph and that committee that it
was all right.
The editors of the old church papers, "Evening and Morning
Star" and "Messenger and Advocate," admit that some changes
were made in some of the revelations; that they added some
items to some revelations, from other revelations. I will
not accuse those who did it of being fully aware of the
grievous error they were making when they added those items
-- that is, made those changes; I would rather believe that
they were spiritually blinded when they did it: and that
Satan deceived them, whispering to them that it was all
right and acceptable until God.
Some of the Latter Day Saints have claimed that God had the
same right to authorize Brother Joseph to add to any
revelations certain words and facts, that He had to give him
any revelations at all: but only those who are trusting in
an arm of flesh and are in spiritual blindness, would
pretend to make this claim; that God would give his servants
some revelations, command them to publish them in His Book
of Commandments, and then authorize them to change and add
to them some words which change and reverse the original
meaning: as if God had changed his mind after giving his
word. No brethren! God does not change and work in any such
manner as this; all those who believe that God does work
this way, my prayer for them is that they may repent, for
they are in utter spiritual blindness.
I want to say a few words here in regard to section 17, in
the Doctrine and Covenants. This revelation was published in
the "Evening and Morning Star" in 1832, before the Book of
Commandments was published, and was put in that paper as,
"The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ, with a
few items from other revelations." This revelation was
received in June, 1830, and these two paragraphs were added
in June, 1832, in that paper. Now I will explain why they
did not print this revelation in the Book of Commandments in
1833, with these added parts in it. It is this: The heads of
the church had not yet become sufficiently blinded to change
a revelation that was given in 1830, and print it changed in
God's Book of Commandments in 1833. W. W. Phelps is the one
who printed this revelation in that paper with the "items"
(Paragraphs 16 and 17), added to it; but when the heads of
the church changed the name of the church to "The Church of
Latter Day Saints," (leaving out the name of "Christ"
entirely) when they did this, and compiled the Doctrine and
Covenants in 1835, God had then given them over to blindness
of mind, and they could print this revelation in God s book,
as also other revelations, changed and added to with a clear
conscience, as they did many other grievous things with a
clear conscience after this, thinking they were all right. I
have no doubt that Brother Joseph thought his works up to
the time of his repentance just before his death, were
acceptable to God.. Poor Joseph! He was blinded and became
ensnared by proud, ambitious men. I labored hard with him to
get him to see it -- from 1835 -- and God alone knows the
grief and sorrow I have had over it. I have been told that
Joseph repented just before he died. He is in the hands of a
just God. If David of old could obtain salvation by
repentance, so could Brother Joseph Smith.