Joe Smith and the Devil.

This dialogue we copy from the New York Herald, and as it contains much truth enforced in a pleasing manner, we think no apology is needed for its insertion. It is a well written article and will pay any one for the time consumed in its perusal.

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(From the New York Herald.)

Joe Smith and the Devil.
A DIALOGUE.
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(see the original article in the Herald)

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Elder W. Smith.

We are pleased to say that our beloved brother Wm. Smith, has again returned to this city, and in good spirits, he has brought us cheering accounts of the spread of the good cause in Boston, Lowell and other parts where he has been laboring, the work of God is rolling onward and no power can stay it. Elder Smith's health is not very good, will not the saints remember him in their prayers, that he may remain long with us? as he is the only one of the Smith family of the males that remains. Our brother appears as cheerful as could be expected considering the great loss and affliction he has met with: he mourns the loss of a father and five brothers, four of whom came to their graves by the hand of persecution, consequently have died as martyrs to the cause of truth, so went the prophets of old; it is due to say, that Elder Smith's untiring zeal for the cause of truth has won for him a reputation in the hearts of the faithful, that time or his enemies cannot erase: we are told that Elder Adams will join him this week in this city and give us a course of lectures on the fulness of the gospel. -- So may God grant it and speed their ministry is our prayer.


Note: In Chapter 42 of his posthumously published Autobiography, Apostle Parley P. Pratt writes: "In the spring [of 1844] I went to Boston as a missionary... Visiting North Bridge, a short distance from Boston, and having a day's leisure, I wrote a dialogue entitled 'Joe Smith and the Devil,' which was afterwards published in the New York Herald, and in various papers in America and Europe. It was finally published and republished in pamphlet form, and had a wide circulation; few persons knowing or mistrusting who was the author." Thus it appears that Pratt wrote his "Joe Smith and the Devil" satire in April or may of 1844 and saw it published in the New York Herald prior to his hearing of Smith's death at Nauvoo a few weeks later.

Official  Notice

To the Saints. -- "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God," and beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves:" "wherefore, by their fruits shall ye know them." It has become my painful duty, for the rolling on of the cause of truth, to say, that notwithstanding our brethren have been murdered by false brethren (apostates), by fault finding saints, that there still remains some who are determined to continue the work of destruction, deceiving the unwary, and leading off the hearts of the simple, by charging the servants of God falsely. Among this number is our once beloved brother Benjamin Winchester, whose course for some two or three years, has been more or less censurable, (as all the heads of the Church will bear me witness,) of which a full account will be published hereafter, if necessary. The object of this brother is best known to himself: he gives as a reason for his opposition to the constituted authorities of the Church, the (by him) supposed existence of certain heresies in the Church, charged upon the heads of a few individuals; and this I consider slanderous, and will repel. And I hereby notify Elder Benjamin Winchester, that his services are no longer required in the Church of Jesus Christ, unless he repents, and that he is forbidden to preach any longer in the name of the Latter Day Saints. "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire." And that the Saints in Philadelphia may know how much confidence they may put in this Lump of Perfection, let them remember the charges he made in Conference, against certain brethren in New York, from whom I have received the following certificate, proving the falsity of said charges.

                WILLIAM SMITH.

New York, Sept. 6th, 1844.      

TO  ALL  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN:
This is to certify that we, the undersigned, did not directly or indirectly teach or profess belief in the plurality of wives to Elder Benjamin Winchester, and further certify that Elder Winchester did speak disrespectfully of the authorities of the Church (viz, the Twelve), and also, that Elder Benjamin Winchester endeavored to sow discord among the brethren by accusing them. We also certify that we never told said Winchester that any of the Twelve had taught such doctrine to us.

In testimony whereof, in truth, we set our hands and seals.

A. E. Wright,       Samuel Brannan,
G. J. Adams,       Thos. Braidwood,
William H. Miles. N. B. It must be obvious to all, that B. Winchester's conduct and course against the Twelve lies cloaked; the mystery, then, is not in the above charges; but a desire on his part to destroy the Twelve and the Philadelphia Church, for various reasons which will be given at the proper time.

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Notes: (forthcoming)

( For the Prophet. )

Salem, Oct. 11th, 1844.      

To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Greeting:--

I deem it to be a duty which I owe to God and his Church to express my feelings and bear my testimony unto you, concerning certain things that are presented to you for your consideration; especially, the claims of Elder Sidney Rigdon to the exclusive right to lead and govern the church of Latter Day Saints. I have carefully examined the trial which Elder Rigdon has had before the authorities of the church in Nauvoo, as given in the Times and Seasons, Vol. V. No. 17, and I am satisfied that a righteous decision has been given in his case. I do not make these remarks without my reasons: and I will hereby give those reasons.

I will commence by asking where has Elder Rigdon been since he made his flaming speech in Far West, which had a tendency to bring persecution upon the whole church especially the head of it? Has he stood by the side of the Prophet and Patriarch as a true friend, to assist in carrying them through their trials, tribulations and persecutions? Has he walked up into his place as a man of God, and stood beside the Prophet as his counsellor [counselor]? Has he walked up into his place as a man of God, and stood beside the Prophet as his counsellor [counselor]? Has he, in any way, been a pillar or support to the church from that day until this? Has he sustained the cause and used an influence to spread the work abroad since the persecution in Far West? Has he in any way sustained the priesthood with dignity and honor, for the last five years of his life? Or, has the Prophet, in any point of view, leaned upon him as a counsellor [counselor], a staff, or support, for the last five years? Or has the Prophet Joseph found Elder Rigdon in his councils when he organized the quorum of the Twelve, a few months before his death, to prepare them for the endowment? And when they received their endowment, and actually received the keys of the kingdom of God, and oracles of God, keys of revelation, and the pattern of heavenly things; and thus addressing the Twelve, exclaimed, "upon your shoulders the kingdom rests, and you must round up your shoulders, and bear it; for I have had to do it until now. But now the responsibility rests upon you. It mattereth not what becomes of me." I say, has this been the case with Elder Rigdon, in any wise? No, no, verily no; but the reverse, until he had become like a millstone upon the back of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. And I hereby bear my testimony that I heard the said Joseph Smith declare that Elder Rigdon had become like a millstone upon his back -a dead weight-and he had carried him long enough, and must throw him off. And in my hearing requested one of the quorum of the Twelve to bring him up before the church that he might be dealt with according to the law of the church, that he might be cut off as a dead branch, and no longer encumber the tree, as there was sufficient testimony against him. But through the pleadings of Brother Hyrum Smith and others, he has been spared. Elder Brigham Young has been his friend-spoke in his favor, in consequence of his age and former standing, hoping that he might reform, get the spirit of the work, and magnify his calling. Upon this principle he has been sustained long, until the branch became twice dead, and necessary to be severed from the tree. Elder Rigdon, for the last five years of his life, has mostly been shut up in the post-office; confined himself mostly to his own temporal affairs, manifesting but little interest in the affairs of the church and when any alarm or report was in circulation unfavorable to the cause if we could judge at all from the course he pursued it had a tendency to increase trouble and disturbance, instead of decreasing it. It is true, that Elder Rigdon attended some of the councils that President Smith held with the Twelve and others, before his death, while giving them instructions; but I heard President Smith say, that he came in without his wish or invitation, as he had no confidence in him.

Elder Rigdon and his friends would now claim, before the church and the world, that he holds the keys of the kingdom of God of the last dispensation, above the Twelve, the Church, etc. I am ready to admit before the whole church and the world, that he does hold one key beyond the Twelve; one, that they do not hold, one that God never held, nor Jesus Christ, not any true prophet, patriarch, or apostle: Joseph and Hyrum Smith were utter strangers to it. And if we can judge from his own mouth, according to the testimony given on his trial, we would suppose that Lucifer, who made war in Heaven, was its author; and that it had been handed down unto the present day, and with it Elder Rigdon has unlocked his heart, and portrayed before our eyes what was in it. What is it? Hear it, all ye Latter Day Saints! Listen, O Earth! and judge the fruits of this Key. He threatens to turn traitor, publish against the church in public journals, intimating that he would bring a mob upon the church, stir up the world against the Saints, and bring distress upon them, etc. This ought to be a sufficient reason for any true hearted Latter Day Saint to turn away from him with disgust, and treat all such men and principles according to their desert, which is, to let them entirely alone; for there is not a more despicable principle ever existed in Heaven, Earth, or Hell, than to prove a traitor to our God, our cause, and our friends, and bring distress upon the innocent, and that too by turning against the very cause that a man has spent a portion of his life to build up, and declared, while in the faith, that it was true and righteous; for in all such cases there is entirely a misrepresentation of truth and facts, in order to accomplish the intended evil, while a true statement of facts would advance the cause. This same principle was manifest in the case of Lucifer, Judas, Arnold, and many apostates in this church, who, when they could not get their own ends answered, would threaten to bring mobs upon the church, and in some instances, have done so. I would ask, has Joseph or Hyrum Smith ever held such a key as this, or manifested such a spirit as this? No, never; but have despised it in their hearts. President Smith seemed to be sensible that such fruit was growing in the breast of Elder Rigdon; and if he had accomplished what duty appeared to present to his mind upon that subject, that branch would have been severed from the tree before his death; but through mercy it was spared until it has produced fruit which is evil in its tendency, and dangerous to the welfare and prosperity of the Church and Kingdom of God. I would again ask, has Elder Brigham Young ever manifested any knowledge of the key above spoken of, or any spirit or disposition to turn against the church in any time of trial and persecution from its commencement? Has he ever deserted Joseph, Hyrum, his brethren, or the cause, in one instance, since the foundation of this church? No, never, in one instance.-He has always been ready to go and come at the bidding of the Lord. He has not said go; but he has always said come. He has set the example and led the way, until he has traversed sea and land, at home and abroad, native and foreign countries, until he has borne [born] off the keys of the kingdom of God in connection with the Twelve, with honor and dignity, since they were committed to his charge. He has followed President Smith's footsteps closely for the last twelve years of his life, and especially the last five years; while Elder Rigdon has, at the same time, been confined to the post-office, apparently manifesting no interest in the welfare of the church and building up of the cause. The spirit of wisdom and counsel has manifested itself in the course and deliberations of Elder Young. He has not only had much experience with President Smith, but he has proved himself true and faithful in all things committed to his charge, until he was called to hold the keys of the kingdom of God in all the world, in connection with the Twelve: was the first to receive his endowment, from under the hands of the Prophet and Patriarch, who have leaned upon him in connection with the Twelve, for years, to bear off this kingdom in all the world, in connection with the Twelve: was the first to receive his endowment, from under the hands of the Prophet and Patriarch, who have leaned upon him in connection with the Twelve, for years, to bear off this kingdom in all the world. And they have done it with honor, laboring both day and night, making every sacrifice required of them; leaving their homes, families, and country, to establish the work of God, and lay the foundation for the deliverance and redemption of Israel. And I can say with every sentiment of my heart, and feeling of my soul, as has President Young, "that if there are but ten men left who hang on to the truth, to Joseph and the temple, and are willing to do right in all things, let me be one of that number." If it cost me my life to defend the truth of the everlasting gospel of the Son of God, and to build upon the great and mighty foundation which God has laid in this last dispensation and fulness [fullness] of times, through the instrumentality of his servant Joseph, the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, for the pruning of the vineyard once more, for the last time, for the warning of the Gentiles, for the salvation of the honest in heart and meek of the earth, the building up of Zion, the establishment of Jerusalem, the final deliverance of Israel, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come, and to secure unto the righteous and exaltation of glory beyond the veil-I say, if it cost me my life, let it go: I want to be among the number; I am ready to follow the example of those who have gone before me-when my work is done, I am ready to be offered, if necessary. I had rather see ten men seal a righteous testimony with their blood, than to see one man turn traitor, shed innocent blood, and damn his own soul-for the object in living and laboring in the cause of God is to secure a part in the first resurrection, eternal life, and immortal glory. A religion that is not worth maintaining at the expense of life, is not worth having, "for he that will lose his life for my sake, the same shall find it." And again, "I will prove you, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, saith the Lord." Many of the patriarchs, prophets, Jesus, the apostles, David, Joseph, and Hyrum, and many others, have sealed their testimony with their blood. Shall we then, as elders of Israel, or Latter-day Saints, back out, fear and tremble, or give up the work, because Elder Rigdon threatens to turn traitor or bring mobs upon us, because he cannot make the church bow to his notion of things? No, God forbid. It shows very clearly that he has not the spirit of Christ, for the Lord nor one of his followers ever did such a thing; and it is sufficient to open the mind of every saint to see where he stands. As far as my faith, prayers, influence and labor, will effect any thing, they will go to sustain President Young, and in connection with him, the quorum of the Twelve, in holding the keys of the kingdom of God, as they have been delivered unto them by the revelation of Jesus Christ, and in the endowments they have received under the hands of the Prophet Joseph, and also all the quorums of the church and kingdom of God in these last days, through the voice of the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, who has been raised up and laid the foundation, and sealed his testimony with his blood.

And I wish to say to all the Elders of Israel, and Saints of God, that the time has come, when we need a double portion of the spirit of Joseph's God to rest upon us, we should gird up the loins of our minds. Watch and be sober, maintain the priesthood with dignity, have the cause of God fully at heart, labor faithfully for its promotion while the day lasts, for night will soon come when no man can work. We should practice virtue and holiness before the Lord, and shun the very appearance of evil. We should enter into our closets, and call upon God for wisdom to direct us in every duty in life. Our object should be to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this generation, and present those principles that will save the souls of men.

If there is any man in this church that does wrong, that breaks the law of God, it mattereth not what his standing may be, whether among the Twelve, the High Priests, Seventies, or Elders, or in any other standing, there is a tribunal that will reach their case in process of time, there is authority before whom they can be tried. Therefore let no one turn against the cause of God, and stop in the road to destruction, on the plea that somebody has done wrong: It is no excuse for you or I to do wrong because another does; the soul that sins alone must bear it. Should I step aside from the path of duty it would not destroy the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or even one principle of truth, they would remain the same. Neither would it be any excuse for you to commit sin; but I should have to bear my own sins, and not the sins of others, so with all men.

Therefore, let me exhort all ye Elders of Israel and Saints of God to rise up in the majesty and dignity of your calling, make full proof of your ministry and covenant. Sustain by your works the authorities, keys, and priesthood of God in all its bearings and appendages, through this last dispensation, for the eyes of God, angels and men, are over you, and when the work is finished, you will receive your just recompense of reward.

                W. WOODRUFF.

Notes: (forthcoming)

S.  Rigdon.

We publish in this number of our paper a letter from Elder Hyde in Cincinnatti, on the claims of Sidney Rigdon; which we hope will be carefully read by every Latter Day Saint. It truly makes manifest the deception of that ambitious man, who has endeavored to obtain the hearts of the saints, by his false visions and revelations, but, when he found they would not receive him, he turned against the church by charging them with every species of crime; O shame! upon such base wickedness and imposition.

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Sidney  Rigdon.

Cincinnatti, Oct. 21, 1844.      

Dear Brother:

To-morrow is the great and awful day on which, the Lord shall ride forth in view of all nations upon his burning throne, wrapped in the garments of vengeance, environed with fleecy clouds, with streams of burning fire issuing from his mouth, whilst the shrill blast from Gabriel's trump shall wreck nature in her onward passage, and summon her guilty sons to appear in judgement, according to Mr. Miller's system of computation; but all the believers in these notions will undoubtedly learn one thing by the stand which they have taken, and that is, that they understand but little of God, of his ways, or of his word.

I have just heard from Nauvoo. They are going on at a firm and steady pace, since the expulsion of the Laws, Higbees, Fosters, and Elder Rigdon and his followers; the people there are now settling down in a strong and heavenly union; everything moves on like clock-work, and I will now venture a prediction, that since Nauvoo has thrown off so much bile from its stomach it will be more healthy, and less complaints and noise about spiritual wives, adultery, bogus making, &c. &c. Eder Rigdon has been associated with Joseph and Hiram Smith as a counsellor to the Church, and he told me in the city of Far West that it was the imperative duty of the Church to obey the word of Joseph Smith, or the presidency, without question or inquiry, and that if there were any that would not, they should have their throats cut from ear to ear. I did not believe this -- said I to myself, Can the spirit of God dwell in that man's heart? -- I answer, no! This, together with some other transactions of his and his son-in-law, was the cause of my taking the course I did in Missouri; let my offence, then, be charged to their account in the day of Judgement, for I do declare before God and man, that they were the cause of it. Such kind of language I never heard from Joseph and Hiram Smith; neither did they ever preach a "salt sermon," nor tell a "Granny Parish story," nor boast of throwing any one aside into the hazel brush.

Now, Elder Rigdon, admitting all your charges against the church and the Twelve to be correct for the sake of argument, I would ask by whom have they been led? By Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, and your humble self.

Why, then, do you turn traitor, to bring distress and reproach upon a people, for crimes with which you charge them, when you have had the honor, according to your present position, of leading and conducting us into them? You may say that you have taken little or no part with the Church for the last five year[s] -- very well. Then as you have not been faithful over a few things, how could you expect to be made ruler over many? But you may say that you have been ignorant of the wickedness and crime carried on in our church for several years; what! and stood next to the head too!! If your vision was not clear enough to discover such glaring wickedness before, you are not a seer keen enough to be entrusted with the care of this Church. You may say that these crime[s] were committed in secret, and unknown to you; if you possess the spirit of God you would have known them if they had existed, for that searches all things; but if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of of his. The Church knew you came to them, not with the spirit of Christ but with a lying spirit, and therefore, they would not hear you; "my sheep," says Christ, "hear my voice, but a stranger they will not follow." This is the reason they would not follow you. Then they were the sheep of the bad shepherd, and you said you were the shepherd to lead. You may say that we are all goats; well -- who built us up and taught us? your humble self claims this; -- Can a stream rise above its fountain? No. You claim to have stood at the head, and if we are goats, you are a goat, and possibly, Daniel's the goat whose horn was broken.

Elder Rigdon, if you knew the people of Nauvoo were so basely wicked as you now represent them; why did you use the following language to them on the sabbath before you were expelled from the church in a public address to some five or six thousand people. "Brethren, the time of your affliction and trouble is almost at an end, you shall prosper, and go forward, and not backward. You shall rise up and not be put down; you shall prevail against your enemies, and not be prevailed against; you sha;; have prosperity, and not adversity. You shall be blest with all blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." -- (Balaam could not curse Israel, but bless.)

"Glory, hallelujah to God and the Lamb!" -- You may say that you did not know then that the Church would reject you; but they had rejected you from being a leader two or three weeks before that, by a unanimous vote. But you may say that you blest us upon the condition that we did not take away your license, and reject you altogether as a minister; why, then, did you use this language to us when we demanded your license? -- "I have set here and laughed at your proceedings all the evening, to see you fulfil the vision which the Lord gave me in Pittsburgh. I saw you demand my license, and cut me off." Oh shame! shame!! on a man that will suffer himself to be drawn away in the gulf stream of inconsistency, and wrecked upon the fatal reefs of falsehood and treachery.

Now, Elder Rigdon, if you had the vision in Pittsburgh that you would be rejected by the Church in Nauvoo, as you declared to us you did, after we really cut you off; why did you declare to a public audience in Pittsburgh just before you left for Nauvoo the last time, that you were to be the leader, and that the matter was known and understood by the Church?

And again, if you had the same vision in Pittsburgh concerning Joseph and Hyram's death, that Cole said he, and Joseph, and Hyram had in Nauvoo, and on examination of the date of your vision, found it to have taken place at the same time that the vision was shown to them in Pittsburgh on hearing of the death of Joseph and Hyrum through the newspapers, that such a thing could not be true, that you did not believe it. When the vision was that they saw Joseph and Hyram in Carthage jail -- saw a great number of men running towards it, armed -- saw them point their guns at the jail -- saw the flash and smoke arise -- heard the report of guns, and saw Joseph fall out of the window dead; and you claimed that the very same was shown you in Pittsburgh before the scene really took place; and yet, when the report came to you in the paper you told a large audience in that place that it could not be true -- did not believe it. Wait! -- did not believe your own vision? then how can you blame others for not believing it? You may say that you never made any such statements in Pittsburgh; but I stand ready to prove that you did.

Now, Elder Rigdon, I will ask a few plain and serious questions for you to answer if you please. If you had known for a long time that we had not been led by the Lord, as you said you had when we demanded your license, why did you wait till that last hour before you apprised us of our condition? Why did you remain silent while the prophet lived? Why did you not find out your duty towards us before we cut you off from the Church? If the Twelve were such bad men you now represent them why did you not come into our councils when we respectfully solicited you to do so, and there lift up your voice and try to reclaim us from those damning sins of which you say we are guilty? If sin we have committed, we have committed it in following your instructions too far, and you have been one of our leaders. Your declaration was, in Far West, that, "if any would not tamely listen to the dictations of their leaders, they should have their throats cut from ear to ear;" and you have evidence that they have ever since looked upon you as a base and wicked tyrant. And in that character do I so regard you.

Now, sir, you have taken a stand against a virtueous and innocent people, and because your lying, hypocritical spirit was detected in Nauvoo, as it was once before in Kirtland, Ohio, by Joseph Smith, when you lied to the Church in the name of the Lord, and afterwards confessed to the people your black and wicked design; you now try to cover your inglorious retreat by throwing dust and smoke into the eyesof your pursuers, but, sir, the Spirit of God will clear our way. And now I will speak a word of thy brethren, John C. Bennet, Higbees, Fosters, and Laws. They are beasts, or cattle made to be taken and destroyed in their own nets. But thou art cursed above all cattle, on thy belly shalt thou go until thou lick up the dust of the feet of those persons whose characters thou hast so vilely and wickedly traduced. If this people had received you as their leader, they would have been, in your mouth, a good people; but now they rejected you, they are very bad, and guilty of all manner of crime. We tell you plainly, sir, that we have suffered enough by your extravagancies. We will try to get out of the difficulties into which you have brought us, and when we want your labors or assistance hereafter we will call on you.

One week before Elder Rigdon was expelled from the church, he told us in his sermon that he was going to fight a great many battles in this country, and then carry his victorious arms over to Old England, encounter the Queen's forces and subdue them. Then he would enter the palace of Her Majesty, and demand of her a portion of her wealth and dominions; "and if," said he "she will not do it, I will take the little madam by the nose, and lead her out, and she shall have no power to help herself. The Lord has declared this to me from heaven, and if I do not do it, the Lord never spoke by a mortal." Elder Rigdon will never do this unless he is born again. But he went on to tell us that his army was to be composed of Saints, worldlings, black-legs, counterfeiters, bogus-makers, &c., &c. "Yet," said he "these are all to be honorable-minded men, and lovers of liberty." The people of Nauvoo thought if such characters were to compose his conquering army, they would not enlist; for they did not believe that the God of heaven ever suggested any such thing; yet the god of this world might. This company were to rendezvous at, or near Pittsburgh, and also commence their fighting near that place. I left Nauvoo in the same boat with Elder Rigdon, several of his adherants went with him, and also three or four men who had been pointed out to me as suspicious characters, supposed to be counterfeiters, came on board in his company, and with whom he appeared intimate and friendly.

Well, with this force, perhaps Elder Rigdon will go forth, conquering and to conquer, and gather together the nations and kings to the battle of the great God.

He is going his whole length in lies and slander, and his satellites in Pittsburgh are charging the Saints in Nauvoo with the things that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; neither hath it entered into the heart of man, except his own and those who are of their spirit. Let not the Saints in the East be insulted by such a tirade of abuse and slang, the spirt of which they possess is a lying spirit, and as an evidence of this, Ebenezer Robinson came down to this city the other day to get a printing press, and reported here that Elder Page had been on his knees to Elder Rigdon and acknowledged his authority. Wonderful! wonderful! -- all excitement and confusion! But Elder Page came the very day that Robinson left, and he says that he told Elder Rigdon if he would present the same amount of evidence that he held the keys of the kingdom that Joseph Smith had, that he held them, he would confess his authority on his knees; and bent his knees to the floor in the presence of Elder Rigdon, to show him what he would do if he could show proper reasons; "But," says Elder Page, "if you do not do it I will never acknowledge your authority; and I know you cannot do it." I have merely given you this example to let you see that you can put no confidence in what they say, for they will lie and basely misrepresent.

O. HYDE.      

N. B. Elders Taylor and Richards who were Joseph's intimate friends were in the prison with him and Hyram until they were shot. But they never heard Joseph intimate a word about such a vision as Cole and Rigdon tell of. If Joseph had had any such vision, Brs. Taylor and Richards are the very men to whom he would have told it, if he had told it to any one.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Rigdon's  Folly.

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner" Psalms 118:22 verse.

This is one of the strong passages made use of by Sidney Rigdon and his followers, to prove that after he should be rejected by the church he should become the head. Now a more foolish position could not be taken by a sensible man, especially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and we are truly led to exclaim God has "sent them strong delusion," and we hope the Saints will examine well before they embrace, lest they "believe a lie and be dam'd." -- Now to set this question forever at rest in the mind of all Saints, we will let the word of God by his son Jesus Christ settle the dispute. -- Matt. 21st. Chap. 33f. to 45th verse.

There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Who can dispute that the stone above alluded to, does not refer to the Son of God, none but dishonest men and hypocrites, who are seeking to build up new fangled systems for their own personal aggrandizement. It is very evident that their minds are blinded by the god of this world, or such absurd arguments as they attempt to make use of would never be brought into the field. Now is the time for the elders to stand firm upon the watch tower and not be dismayed.

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What Does it Mean?

On last Wednesday evening we attended a conference (as it was called) held by B. Winchester and S. Rigdon in this city, and I should conclude from the hands that was raised when they voted, there was about twenty of their followers present with some fifteen or eighteen unbelievers and some half a dozen or more of saints. We can truly say that the spirit there manifested, and the language made use of, was sufficient to make saint or sinner disgusted. In speaking of the calling of Elder Adams to the Ministry and of his being anointed, the following language was made use of" "Adams might have been anointed, but if he had been it was for the itch no doubt," which drew from Mr. Rigdon a very sweet smile of approbation, and from Winchester a grin of gratitude, that apparently flattered the vanity of the speaker as much as the boy was, when he spelt baker the first time trying, while the disaffected swallowed it without chewing, they no doubt looking upon it as a choice bit of carrion and from the effect it produced it must have been very palatable.

Query: from whom did Elder Adams receive his anointing? was it not from the same one that Mr. Rigdon received his from? Yes! Then what are we to understand from this ridicule and sport made of the ordinances of God's house? is not the anointing of Elder Adams as valid as that of Mr. Rigdon? or does Mr. Rigdon consider it all a farce? If he does he is one of the most arrant knaves that ever graced the footstool of God. If this anointing is nothing more than what we should naturally conclude it to be from the manner they treat it (a dumb show) where does the claims and pretensions of Mr. Rigdon as prophet, seer, and revelator expect to meet approbation? -- certainly not from any honest man. The following was the language of a looker on, that belonged to neither party: "That man never believed Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God, neither does he believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God!" and well might he drawn such a conclusion as this, after witnessing the bombastical proceedings of that evening.

Mr. Rigdon informed us that there was a revelation given to Joseph Smith "that he should live till his hair should become white, if he was faithful," and another one saying. "that if he was faithful he should live till the coming of Christ," says he, "they are in the Book of Covenants," but was careful enough to give neither page, section, or paragraph, but we had the word of a man, that while in Missouri, he stood up and cursed God to his face and pronounced Mormonism to be a delusion. Mr. Rigdon may attempt to deny the two first statements of this paragraph, when he gets to Boston, but let him remember that he leaves many witnesses of his folly in New York.

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To The Saints

Where is the man who believes that God in this last time has uttered his voice from the heavens, and again revealed to man the plan of returning to the earth once more the Holy Priesthood, that the Gospel might be preached to all the world...


Notes: (forthcoming)

Bordentown, N. J., Nov. 1st, 1844.     

Brother Brannan,

I ask pardon for obtruding the name of B. Winchester once more before the public, as I had considered him unworthy of further notice, and I still consider him so; but his manner of proceeding is calculated to give an air of importance and notoriety entirely unworthy of the man. (When we speak of man, we have reference to man in principle, not is shape.) And I should not have replied to his unholy attack and outrages upon the church, if circumstances had not rendered it necessary. Being in the city of Philadelphia last evening, I became more acquainted with his foul aspersions and base calumny, mingled with sophistry and subterfuges, to carry out his aspiring plans.

I stated in my last, that there was no law in this church commanding a plurality of wives; and I am bold to say, that B. Winchester is a wanton falsifier, and base calumniator, when he says a doctrine of this kind is tolerated or taught in the church!

It is plain to be seen then, that Benny is fighting nothing but the air; the belief and private opinion of men in or out of the church, is not the standard for church government, unless that opinion or belief is submitted to a law, and a church considered bound by it.

The first causes that have led to the late infraction, are not because (neither is it contended) there are deficiencies of immoralities in the laws of the church. But the difficulties pretended are in the Elders, or members of said church. What an argument is this? This would disorganize and unchristianize the whole religious world, allowing them to be christians as well as the old orthodox Mormon church. The only remedy to be applied is for bad men and members to repent and do their first works over again; if in error of doctrine--forsake it, and sin no more (especially where this doctrine that is false becomes a leading or a standard principle); otherwise the candlestick must be removed out of its place. But I do contend that all men have a right to their own opinion and belief, uncontrolled by church or state, provided that opinion does not interfere with church government, or the rights and privileges of others.

Who appointed Ben Winchester the Prophet, great dictator and regulator of this church, to direct and dictate to the saints, their faith and doctrine? Did Israel's God do it? If he did, I must confess that men of veracity and truth are getting rather scarce, judging from personal manifestations; but as he is ordained a King, when he is crowned, perhaps, there may be a different manifestation. It is singular, indeed, to see the raw subterfuge resorted to by these Rigdonites, garbling the scriptures, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, revelations given to the saints concerning Jackson County, Mo., are made to apply to Nauvoo. Sayings spoken thousands of years ago, concerning Judea and Jerusalem are applied to the daughters of Nauvoo with their head dress, round tires, "nose jewels, and tinkling ornaments," when they have none -- these few, if no more, are enough to show the saints the rottenness of a cause that has to be sustained by misapplying scriptures and revelations by false arguments. * * *

         As ever your brother in Christ.
                    WILLIAM SMITH

Notes: (forthcoming)

TO  THE  ELDERS  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF
JESUS CHRIST  OF  LATTER DAY SAINTS.

Whereas certain apostates are urging on an unhallowed persecution against the church by getting up vexatious law suits, thereby thinking to drive elders from their field of labour, that the Saints may the more easily fall a prey to the devouring wolf, I would, therefore, recommend all the readers to meet in council and take such measures as may be deemed necessary to expose their corruptions to the world, is our defence from their unlawful and wicked attempts to destroy.

First, Let the elders assemble in council and appoint a committee of three faithful men in every branch of the Church, and the duty of this committee shall be to publish and prosecute in law those ruthless vagabonds that are constantly traducing and vilifying the character of innocent men, and see to paying expenses.

Second, Let there be a society formed whose duty it shall be to meet as often as the case may require, and pay into the treasury a sum sufficient for all purposes of defence in law or publishing, appoint a president, clerk, and treasurer, (Elders, see to it.) The elders of New Jersey are requested to meet in Recklesstown, at the house of Elder Appleby on Saturday, 14th of December, when some important disclosures will be made, and steps taken to bring offenders to justice. I wish the elders to attend without fail.

WM. SMITH.          

Notes: (forthcoming)