Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession

by Joseph Fielding Smith

"Then said Mary unto the angel; How can this be?

"And the angel answered and said unto her, of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest. Therefore also, that holy child that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.—Luke 1:34-35).

In Matthew it reads "of the Holy Ghost" which evidently means "power of the Holy Ghost," to agree with the Book of Mormon and with Luke.

If Reorganites are correct then Jesus is not the Only Begotten Son of the Father, but the Son of the Holy Ghost. This will not do for it conflicts with the Scriptures. The Prophet taught that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were three separate personages, and that Jesus was the Only Begotten of the Father. In the Book of Genesis, (Inspired Scriptures) Jesus is spoken of throughout as the Only Begotten of the Father not less than twelve times and in the Book of Mormon at least five times and a great number of times in the Doctrine and Covenants (see section 76:23, 25, 35, 57) and in these Scriptures He is spoken of as the Son of God innumerable times. Now, if He is the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, He must be the Son of the Father and not the Son of the Holy Ghost. Yet, to be consistent, Reorganites must claim that Jesus is the Son of the Holy Ghost and not the Son of God the Father. Their alternative—if it can be called such—must be, then, the stand of Mr. William H. Kelley, the "president" of their "apostles," who in a written statement in answer to the question put to him by the writer, September 10, 1903: "You say that Jesus Christ the Son of God was begotten of the Holy Ghost. Is He the Son of the Holy Ghost?"

Mr. Kelley signed his answer as follows: "I do not know. Wm. H. Kelley."

Just think of this for a moment. Here is a man professing to be the Chief of the Special Witnesses for Christ, declaring that he does not know whether Jesus is the Son of God the Father or the Son of the Holy Ghost. And the Savior declared it so plainly that He was the Son of the Father, His Only Begotten, and was so acknowledged by the Father throughout the Scriptures. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." John 17:3. Again we prove that they have departed from the Scriptures and the teachings and revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Why do they make this error? Because they do not understand the Scriptures and fail to recognize the fact that all things that the Father doeth are done by the power of the Holy Ghost.

MARRIAGE.

The question of Celestial (including plural) marriage is treated quite extensively in Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage so it will be passed with a brief notice here.

We maintain with abundant authority that Joseph Smith the Prophet introduced Celestial Marriage, that is, marriage for eternity, into the Church. This fact has been admitted by many members of the "Reorganized" Church, notwithstanding they attack us on this doctrine and say it is not a doctrine of the Church. And while they attack us the better part of them hope it is true. What is there so terrible in the doctrine of the preservation of the family union in eternity? What right-living God-fearing man is there but would be glad to meet his parents, his wife and children, in the kingdom of God and know they were united never again to separate? While this belief is not taught in the creeds of men—including the Reorganites—yet there is a hope burning in the bosoms of many people that this doctrine may prove true!

Well, it is a Scriptural doctrine, and it is true, for the Lord revealed it to Joseph Smith. In the beginning, the very first marriage was one intended to last forever. Do you not believe it? I quote from the Inspired Scriptures:

"And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him, male and female created I them, And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."—(Genesis 1:29-30).