It is manifest that Young is not so much at home in theology as when engaged in financial schemes and money speculations. So disgusting and blasphemous are these ideas, and so unacceptable were they, even to Mormons, who were not prepared to see the basis of their religion thus rudely overthrown, that Brigham finally felt compelled to caution the Elders not to preach the new doctrine concerning Deity, until the people should be better prepared to receive them.
Mahomet is the great exemplar and prototype whom Brigham Young aims to imitate, and doubtless he took from the Koran his ideas about the deity of Adam. Thus in chapter two of the Koran, we have the following:—
"And when we said unto the angels, 'worship Adam,' they all worshipped him, except Eblis, [Lucifer,] who refused."
From the following affidavit of John Stiles, father of Judge
Stiles, formerly one of the United States Judges in Utah, a man of much probity of character, and well known in Salt Lake City as "Father Stiles," it appears that the blasphemous pretensions of Brigham Young do not stop with Adam, but that, among the brethren, he has encouraged a doctrine, which he dare not put in print;—no less than to arrogate to himself the attributes of Deity.
| "Territory of Utah, Great Salt Lake City. |
| ss. |
"In the spring of 1856," John Stiles says, "I resided in the 11th Ward of Great Salt Lake City, in the Territory of Utah. I was appointed by the quorum to which I then belonged, as a Missionary High-Priest for the said Ward. My duty was to look after the morals of the people of the Ward, and especially to see that there was no false doctrine taught there. I subsequently found that there were not only immoralities, but also false doctrines among some of the people, as I supposed at the time. Many people believed and taught the doctrine, that Brigham Young was all the God that we were amenable to. I found by opposing that doctrine, that I gave offence to the authorities of the Ward, and was consequently called to answer for my opposition before the Bishop of the Ward, although he had no jurisdiction over me. As a High-Priest I was amenable to a higher authority, but not to him.
"In a public assembly he wished me to state my views on the question, whether if Brigham Young was not God, who was? I told him I would do so. I rose and stated that my idea of the being of God was expressed in a passage of Scripture, and I need only repeat the passage to explain the idea. The passage was: 'To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.' I subsequently, in explanation, cited this passage of Scripture: 'This is life eternal, that we might know thee, the only living and true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' I then sat down, and the Bishop rose and said: 'Brethren, we perceive that Father Stiles runs round Brigham.' I replied, 'Yes; I do not mention Brigham Young on the same day with God, as of the same Godhead.' His (the Bishop's) First Counsellor, then moved that Father Stiles be cut off from the church. This
was seconded by the Second Counsellor. This was proposed to the assembly as a question by the Bishop, and I was cut off accordingly. I subsequently discovered that by my opposition and explanation, I gave offence to the authorities of the Mormon Church, and was cut off from the church and dismissed from the place of Missionary High-Priest of that Ward. I have never been restored as Missionary High-Priest.
(Signed,) John Stiles.