"AN ESOTERIC GOSPEL."
Another charge is that after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, President Young and the Apostles introduced secrets into the Church, that they claimed to hold "keys that the written word never spoke of, nor never will." (True Succession, p. 122). All this, say they, is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the teachings of Joseph Smith, who always taught openly and not in secret. One of their defenders writing on this point quotes from the Redeemer as follows:
"Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, wither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why ask thou me? ask them: behold they know what I said." (John 18:18-21.)
"But Brigham was afraid that people would ask his followers what he taught. In speaking of some who wanted their endowments, he says: 'Well, he gets his endowment, and what for? To go to California, and reveal everything he can, and stir up wickedness, and prepare himself for hell." (Journal of Discourses, 2: 144).
"Christ was not afraid of any revealments. He stood there among His enemies, defying them to find any fault with His teachings; but Brigham was afraid of what his followers might reveal of his doctrine and secret works. Did he represent Christ?" (Necessity for a Reorganization, p. 30).
Yes, Jesus taught the Gospel openly as far as the Jews were able to stand it; but it does not follow that he did not teach His disciples things that were not for the world! And at times He was constrained by His Father from teaching His disciples some truths. Why? Because of the hardness of their hearts they were not able to receive His teachings. In not revealing everything to the world, did Brigham Young,—aye, did Joseph Smith represent Christ? for Brigham Young was only following in the footsteps of the Seer! What was it the Savior said to Peter, James, and John, when they came down from the mount of transfiguration? Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead."—Matt. 17:8. (Inspired Scriptures) Why didn't he tell them to proclaim it openly from the housetops? Because it was not for the world! Jesus was in the habit of teaching the people in parables. On one occasion when He had thus spoken, His disciples came and said unto him:
"Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they, seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand." (Matt. 13:8-12).
On another occasion Jesus said unto His disciples: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16). But He did not tell them who those "other sheep" were. The reason He failed to tell them this interesting fact we learn from the Book of Mormon:
"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, He said unto those Twelve whom He had chosen, ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them. That other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word: therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them." (III. Nephi, 15:11-17).
How different this is from Reorganite philosophy, according to their rule of faith, Jesus should have spoken boldly and openly and should not have withheld anything. Was Jesus "afraid of any revealments?"
Paul says he knew a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, he could not tell, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." What made the words unlawful to utter to man? simply because in the hardness of his heart and unbelief, man was not worthy to hear them, he could not endure them.
The Book of Mormon is most emphatic on this point that there are "mysteries" that are not to be revealed to the unfaithful. This is from the Prophet Alma: