REVELATION.
Another charge is that the Presidents of the Church have not received the revelations of the Lord which have been given to the "Reorganization" through their president. The charge is false. The Presidents of the Church from the Prophet Joseph until now have received revelations from the Lord for the guidance of His people. While all these revelations have not been placed in the Doctrine and Covenants, they are none the less true. Not all the revelations given to Joseph the Seer were placed in the Doctrine and Covenants in his day, we have added many of his revelations to that volume since his death; and there are others that have not been placed in it. Some of them were for the Church and not for the world, and, therefore, are given only to the Saints. But many revelations have been given to the Church since the death of Joseph Smith, some of these have been published, some have not. It has been my privilege to read and handle a number of them that are still in the manuscript and have not as yet been given to the world for a wise purpose in the Lord. But they are on file and will be preserved.
A short time ago a number of Elders visited Lamoni and held meetings there. The following issue of the Saints' Herald contained an editorial, not very dignified, ridiculing them. It was written by the associate editor. In part he said:
"It may be urged that these are young and inexperienced men. But the dearth of spiritual power is not confined to these young men. Joseph F. Smith, who is supposed to be a 'Prophet, seer, and revelator,' when before the Senate Committee was asked by Senator Dubois, 'Have you received any individual revelations yourself, since you became president of the Church under your own definition, even, of a revelation?'
"To this he replied, 'I cannot say that I have.'
"A moment later he added, 'Well, I can say this: That if I live as I should in the line of my duties, I am susceptible, I think, of the impressions of the Spirit of the Lord upon my mind at any time, just as any good Methodist or any other church member might be.'
"This seems to be in line with the experiences of his predecessors, Snow, Woodruff, Taylor, and Young, who also posed as 'revelators,' for during a period of over sixty years they have received nothing professing to be a revelation, that was thought worthy of a place in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants." (Elbert A. Smith, Saints' Herald, 56:681).
This slurring presumption counts for naught, for the editor of the Herald knows nothing pertaining to the revelations we have received, or what we think of them. Nor is he fair to President Joseph F. Smith in this quotation from the record of the investigation, for it does not convey the belief or knowledge, or the true expression of President Smith, and was purposely misapplied, which a careful reading of his testimony will show.
To presume to speak in the name of the Lord is a serious matter, and woe be to the man who speaks in the name of the Lord when he has not been commanded. It is far better never to receive a revelation than to follow after those who receive "revelations" that the Lord has not given. The "revelations" given by the Reorganite president to the "Reorganized" Church, need only to be read to convince one of their spurious character. They are weak, puerile, and it takes a very little of the spirit of discernment to know what source they are of. However, if they are acceptable to the "Reorganization," that is their business. We are satisfied.
But the people who lack in discernment may be deceived through the pretenses of men and accept for facts and revelations that which the Lord has not commanded. If there are any who are honestly deceived pertaining to the revelations of this man who presumes to be the "President of the High Priesthood" and "the mouthpiece of God," we will respectfully call their attention to one or two items in his pretended revelations.
This is from section 116, "revelation" given May 4, 1865:
"Be not hasty in ordaining men of the negro race to offices in my church, for verily I say unto you, All are not acceptable unto me as servants, nevertheless I will that all may be saved, but every man in his own order, and there are some who are chosen instruments to be ministers to their own race. Be ye content, I the Lord have spoken it."
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the Saints that the negroes could not hold the Priesthood, for the Lord had cursed them as pertaining to the Priesthood. This is supported by the revelation in the Book of Abraham, which was translated by the Prophet. It reads:
"Now the first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the manner of government of Ham, which was patriarchal.
"Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood. Now, Pharaoh being of the lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through Ham, therefore my father was led away by their idolatry." (Book of Abraham 1:25-27).
The Lord did not tell Abraham that the children of Ham were cursed as pertaining to the Priesthood, and then command Joseph Smith of the "Reorganization" to be slow in ordaining them. In the "Reorganized" Church they have a few, at least, of the negro race, that they have "ordained to the priesthood" but it is contrary to the word of God. This Reorganite revelation is spurious.
Here is an extract from another:
"The quorum of twelve, my servants, may choose and appoint one of their number to take the place of my servant Alexander H. Smith, and if they shall choose William H. Kelley, from among them for this place, it will be pleasing unto me; NEVERTHELESS, IF directed by the spirit of revelation and wisdom they may choose another." (Sec. 124:3).
Can any sane man believe that the Lord gave this "revelation?" Did He not know His mind and will, was not His the "spirit of revelation and wisdom?" or was there a disagreement on the point between the Lord and the Holy Spirit?
Other extracts might be given from these alleged "revelations" showing their inconsistency, but this will suffice. I have not given these in the spirit of ridicule, but for the purpose of opening the eyes of the blind that they might see, and seeing understand. Let our friends straighten out a few things of this kind among themselves, then they can the better attack us on the point of revelation.
At this point I desire to consider another matter. At the Salt Lake Conference, held March 19, 1905, not long after the return of President Joseph F. Smith from the investigation in Washington, he addressed the Saints on the subject of revelation. In the course of his remarks, he referred to his testimony and said:
"Now, with reference to the principle and doctrine of revelation, it may be proper for me to say a few words on this subject while I am on my feet. For me to say, which was the very end that my critics and inquisitors were endeavoring to get me to say, in order that I might be led into that trap which they had made for me, to say that God had given to me a revelation upon some new doctrine, or theory, or principle, or precept, or anything to be written, to be observed, or handed down as a guide to the Church, would have been untrue. I could not have said that, for He has not done this. But has God revealed to me His mind and His will? Has He made manifest to me a knowledge of His truth by and through the Spirit of revelation? Did you ever hear of my denying that? No; no man has ever heard me deny that.
"When I was baptized as a little child, right up here at the junction of East Temple and North Temple streets, where City Creek then ran, but where it is now covered and obliterated—when I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, God Almighty revealed to me that I had done an act which He approved; I received then and there a revelation from Almighty God, that has been with me like a well of living water, springing up into everlasting life in me, which has been a stay and a staff to me in all my daily walks, at home and abroad. God revealed to me that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, that his message was divine, that he was raised up by the power of the Almighty to lay the foundation of this great latter-day work. The Lord has revealed to me the truth that he sealed his testimony with his blood, that he was true to the end, as was the Son of God, true until he cried, 'It is enough!' upon the cross. The Lord has revealed to me in terms that are unmistakable and that are undeniable, that Brigham Young succeeded lawfully and divinely to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by the will of the Almighty. I would not be without that revelation for all the gold and wealth of the world. The Lord revealed to me in terms that cannot be mistaken, by me at least, that John Taylor was inspired of the Lord and was a Prophet of God, and was the lawful and divine successor in the Priesthood and Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to Brigham Young. The Lord revealed to me that Wilford Woodruff lawfully and divinely succeeded John Taylor, that Lorenzo Snow lawfully and divinely followed Wilford Woodruff. I leave to you to say whether the Lord willed, and whether it is lawful and right, that I should be in the position in which God has suffered me to be placed. * *
"The Lord Almighty has revealed to me many things for my own guidance, to assist me in the discharge of my duty, as an elder in the Church, as a high priest in the Church, as an apostle, one of the twelve apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I fervently believe that God has manifested to me in my present capacity, many glorious things, many principles and oftentimes much more wisdom than is inherent in myself; and I believe He will continue to do so as long as I am receptive, as long as I am in a position to hear when He speaks, to listen when He calls, and to receive when He gives to me that which He desires."
These remarks were taken up, twisted, and falsified by a Salt Lake newspaper, which is so characterless and vile that it is without an equal, and sent out into the world as a press dispatch, declaring that President Joseph F. Smith had in the Tabernacle confessed that he had lied before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, in relation to the subject of revelation when he was a witness before said committee. They made it appear in their dispatch that he had stated in Washington that he had not received any revelation, and in the Tabernacle he declared that that was false for he had received many of them. He testified in Washington as he testified in the Tabernacle, that he had received revelation, as this will show:
Mr. Tayler: Did Joseph Smith contend that always there was a visible appearance of the Almighty or of an angel?
Mr. Smith. No, sir: he did not.
Mr. Tayler. How otherwise did he claim to receive revelations?
Mr. Smith. By the Spirit of the Lord.
Mr. Tayler. And in that way, such revelations as you have received, you have had them?
Mr. Smith. Yes, sir. (Investigation, Vol. 1: 100).
Without waiting to verify this falsehood circulated from an unspeakable source in Salt Lake City, the President of the "Reorganization," as editor of the Saints' Herald took up the hue and cry with evident great pleasure and wrote an editorial consigning President Joseph F. Smith to perdition as a perjurer in the following words:
"Who Make and Love a Lie."
"If President Joseph F. Smith has stated in public what it is currently reported he has, that in the statements made by him when a witness before the Senatorial Committee, whose sittings for inquiry have lately been finished, the report of which in regard to the unseating of Senator Smoot is awaited, he testified to that which was not true, he has done an unfortunate and unwise thing. There may have been some moral bravery in doing as he did in stating that he was breaking the law of the State, the law of the United States, and the law of God by continuing to live with his five wives; and such boldness may have made some admirers of the President of the Utah Church; but, when that president publicly states that he lied when he gave his evidence before the Senatorial Committee, those who may have admired him for his avowal of his guilt will not, cannot admire him as a confessed perjurer. It may be said that President Joseph F. Smith did not make oath to what was false, as he was not sworn, that is, no judicial oath was administered to him, but, when a witness chooses to affirm that privilege is granted by the courts; the form of the affirmation is much like this: 'I do solemnly affirm, subject to the pains and penalties of perjury, that the testimony I shall give in the case now pending * * * shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' If President Joseph F. Smith faced the committee on such an affirmation, and gave false testimony, can it be called anything but perjury? We think not.
"We were surprised when he testified as he did; we now are more surprised to learn that he has said that he affirmed what was not true. What can honorable men in or out of the Church think of such a man? What reliance can be placed on what such a man declares? If he sought by falsehood to avoid falling into a "trap" set for him before the committee, by confessing that he did so falsify, he has assuredly fallen into a more open and dangerous one." (Saints' Herald, Vol. 52:314-315).
Immediately after this editorial appeared in the Saints' Herald the attention of the editor, Joseph Smith, was called to the fact that it was based on a falsehood. Among others who requested him to correct the wrong and injustice he had inflicted on his people as well as on President Smith, was the writer, who immediately forwarded a protest with a clipping from a non-"Mormon" Utah paper correcting the false report. Others wrote to him on the same subject, but no satisfactory correction was ever made. This was very unchristianlike conduct; surely not the part of a prophet of the Lord! It is true, that in a later editorial he quoted a portion of the remarks of President Joseph F. Smith delivered at that conference, but without apology or correction for bearing false witness. This is the comment following the brief extract he saw fit to give:
"We give these extracts from President Joseph F. Smith's talk on the afternoon of March 19, 1905, on the subject of revelation, as they contain the statements on which the charge is based that he contradicted and denied what he testified to before the Territorial (Investigation) Committee, offering no comment upon them, leaving those who read them to judge of them without the bias of an expression from us."
Surely his sense of fairness after making such an accusation, should have demanded of him more than this.
The following letter, which, under the circumstances, is worthy of producing, was forwarded to him also requesting that justice be done, but it was ignored absolutely:
"Salt Lake City, April 5, 1905.
"Joseph Smith, Esq.,
"Editor, 'The Saints' Herald,'
"Lamoni, Iowa."My Dear Sir:
"I was very greatly surprised to notice in the issue of the 'Herald' of March 29, 1905, your editorial entitled, 'Who Make and Love a Lie.' I am surprised because of the plainly implied accusation that President Joseph F. Smith is a maker and lover of lies. I am surprised because of the unfairness of the article referred to which will take for granted the statement of a man's bitterest foe and place that statement before his people, commenting upon it as if it were an admitted fact, without one word of explanation from the person so wickedly accused, or a single effort to present both sides. I am surprised because such an article appears in a periodical which is the organ of a religious organization claiming to have sprung out of the work founded by the great prophet who, 'came up through much tribulation,' and who was misrepresented through all his days upon the earth.
"I am surprised that a man whose early years were spent in the sorrows and privations incident to the persecutions suffered by a father whose whole life was spent in sorrow and affliction, in consequence of the false testimony borne against him and the constant misrepresentation of his mission, should allow himself to pass judgment upon another before hearing his defense, and finding him guilty of 'an unfortunate and unwise thing,' forgetting the wise proverb, 'He who judgeth a matter before he heareth it, is not wise.'
"It is true, the article begins with the expression—'IfPresident Joseph F. Smith has stated in public,' etc., etc., but the remainder of the article clearly assumes that it is sure that he did so state, as note: "but, when the President publicly states that he lied when he gave his evidence,' * * * those who (previously) admired him. * * * * cannot admire him as a confessed perjurer.
"President Joseph F. Smith has never stated in public nor in private that he lied when he gave his evidence or at any other time, and he is not a confessed, nor any other kind of a perjurer, and I must repeat that I am surprised that any man claiming to be fair, and to be an example of truthfulness, should follow in the steps of men who indeed 'love and make lies,' as you well know.
"Does it occur to you that there is anything in the nature of loving a lie when a person repeats the lies of others and takes pleasure in assuming the false accusations are true?—or that there is anything in the nature of 'making a lie' when a person takes the lying testimony of a man's foes and places it before his people without giving them the opportunity of judging the matter by knowing both sides?
"It was by such specious falsehoods that the life of the Prophet Joseph was repeatedly placed in danger. It was by such false testimony that the Son of Man was condemned by the Priests, the Rabbis, the Scribes and the Pharisees.
"You ask, 'What can honorable men, in or out of the Church, think of such a man?'
"Let me say in reply to your question:—honorable men and men of wisdom, who love the truth, in or out of the Church, seek to know the truth before joining with the rabble in the cry, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' and such men, who know the facts, and who love not a lie, but love the truth and the Lord its maker, honor and revere the man whom your article so subtly defames. They know him to be an upright, true, pure, honorable man, whose simple life has been before his people all his days, whose heart is true, whose tongue is true, whose courage is undaunted, whose faith is unshaken, and who is, in all respects, worthy of the love, confidence and support of the people of the living God.
"In order that you may not fall under the dreadful charge of 'Loving and Making a Lie,' will you publish, for the information of the readers of the 'Herald,' the other side of this matter if it is furnished you?
"It is not my habit to take up matters of this kind, and if these accusations had been made against myself, I should never have noticed them, but knowing what a great injustice your article does to a good and noble man—my true friend and brother—I felt impelled to call your attention to it, in the hope that your sense of fairness would cause you to do simple justice, and not join in the hue and cry of those who 'Make and Love a Lie.'"
"Yours truly,
"THOMAS HULL."
He failed absolutely, when the evidence was furnished him, to justly, honorably, make the matter right. There is some degree of commendation due the man who maligns another if he is willing to make amends, and we can honor a man who will correct an error when he discovers that fact and is willing to make full satisfaction; but little respect can be had for one who, after wronging another, will not attempt to right it when he learns he is wrong. Abraham Lincoln said in his debate with Douglas, that there was a moral rule, "That persons who tell what they do not know to be true, falsify as much as those who knowingly tell falsehoods." We leave the matter in the hand of a Just Judge, who will judge all men according to their works.