BANCROFT LIBRARY THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA VV- OFE33ST LETTER : TO : IB- ZE3I_ IROIBIEDRTS, MR. 15. H. ROBERTS, Dear Sir: 1 Imvo road your book on "Succession in The Presidency of The Church, "and 1 have read it care- fully, and find that you are a good reasoner and logician when you have sound premises to reason from; but unfortunately you are not always in possession of such premises, and therefore, while your reasoning fac- ulties are good, many of your con- clusions are simply faulty and false. I say so with no ill-feeling to you or to any. I Irive written, lately, a little work on this question, myself, but have not yet got it into print, and I find that what you have said in relation to young Joseph's false claims to the prophetic office, and what I have said, myself, on that matter, run very nearly together; and I feel that any man who reflects at all upon those claims, must come to similar conclusions. Young Joseph Smith's claims are simply false, and no amount of effort can make them true; and nothing but the merest ignorance or effront- ery, with a determination to succeed at any cost, could ever prompt any man who looks the written facts squarely in the face, to stand up in its defence. These Reorgan- ized gentlemen are not ignorant of the weakness of their position. Their bread and butter, however, are at stake, and feeling that they have a good thing, on the surface, thougff false and rotten under- neath, they do not at all feel like giving it up, or acknowledging their errors. But I often think it strange that Brighamites, men who are so confident of having the trnth on their side, should utterly refu- take up the gauntlet thrown dov by these same Josephites, especially asthey are commanded to "call upcrt>. their enemies to meet them both Ui private and in public," and to invit? them to bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord and Hit- I work, and are promised that in u* ; much as they are faithful, the folly . j their enemies shall be made manifest. ! I can't imagine how that utter refu- jsal can be justifiable on Brighain'rt | part, or on the part of anyone claim- ing the right to lead a people such H i the Latter Day Saints, especially | where so much self-evident folly cro, * I out on the part of the enemy as is i found in support of the claims ;f i young Joseph to succeed his father In i the prophetic office. A consciousness I of the weakness of the position as- I an med both by Brigham and his sue- I cessors, can alone account for it. But I propose now, to point out a j few things which concern BrighamV history and claims, which I am n able to find any reference made to \ your book on ''Succession in the j Presidency of the Church." "He that is ordained of me (to f: the President's office) shall come in at the gate, and BE ORDAINED a* i have told you BEFORE." You perceive that this language r<- I fers to the highest officer in r church, and can refer to no other ol- cer. And now, what did God tell tin "BEFORE" in relation to the ordin? - tion of that officer? "I have sent u-.- | to you (Joseph) Peter, James ai;i John (angels) by whom I hav dainerl you." ( Doc. & Co v. Sec. 27; 12, Salt Lake ed.) Is this what God said "BEFORE" to Joseph touching this matter? Can you find anything else that God said before, as to how and by whom this officer is ordained? If you can you can do more than any other man I have ever heard of. You per- ceive, then, that this officer or suc- cessor in the prophetic office, is to BE ORDAINED to that office as I (God) liave told you before. He told us 'before" that angels, w*ho in their lifetime were ordained to be proph- ets, seers, revelators and translators, were sent unto Joseph to ordain him to that same office, and Oliver to a secondary office in the holy priest- hood. And on the principle that none can give or confer upon another that which was never conferred upon himself, as a matter of course, the successor to Joseph must receive an ordination under like hands to those who ordained the predecessor. How else can the words, "as I have told you before" have any reasonable meaning? But looking at Brigham Young, I find that he was never ordained only to the office of the President of the Twelve Apostles in the days of Jos- eph, and XKVK CLAIMED ANY OTHER ORDINATION. The death of a prophet adds nothing to any man's authority. It simply leaves all men's ordination iin the church as it found them, pre- cisely. And this being the case, Brig- ham Young stood, at the death of Joseph, precisely where he was be- fore that event. Brigham nor any ono of his quorum, nor any one else, has ever claimed for him any higher ordination than to the presidency of the Twelve Apostles. Now, a priest ( Aaronic) cannot get into the office of nn Elder without an ordination to that office; an Elder cannot step into the office of High Priest without an ordination under the hands of some one who at least holds that office. A High Priest cannot get into the office or quorum of the Twelve Aposties without an ordination to that office, under the hands of some person or persons who, at least hold that authority. Upon the same prin- ciple, one of the Twelve Apostles could never get into the office of Assistant President or Counsellor to the First President over the whole church, without an ordination to that office, under the hands of THE PRESIDENT OVER THE WHOLE CHURCH; and as a matter of course, were one of the assistant presidents, or coun- sellors to the FIRST President called to fill the office of the President of the whole church, he could not step into THAT office without an ordina- tion to it, any more than Joseph the prophet could, or Moses could, or Jesus could, or Peter, Ja.mes' and John could, or any other man who ever held that office. The keys of mysteries and revelations, and the right to stand in the presence of God and talk with Him face to face, are al- ways conferred upon, and possessed by, this officer. (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 81:2.) Now. weneed not ask how Brigham Young came to possess these KEYS and glorious privi leges, because he never possessed them; but the ques- tion is here and now, how did or could Brigham lawfully step, not only over the office of As&istant Pres- ident which office was next above him, BUT INTO THE OFFICE NEXT AMOVE THAT AGAIN, WHICH IS THE GREATEST OF ALL, WITHOUT^AN ORDI- NATION TO EITHER OF THEM? My friend Roberts, here is a grand point, which, without a single one more, ought to open the eyes of every thinking; man and woman, not only in I T tali hut in all the earth, to the monstrocity of Brigham Young's usurpation! Yon should know that no man can get the inspiring- gifts of any office in the whole priesthood, unless he is ordained to it, and law- fully ordained to it at that, hy his superiors in office. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," said Jesus, "BECAUSE HE hath ANOINTED ME to prench glad tidings unto the meek," &c. And surely if the Spirit that guided the great Masterhuilder, Christ, was not obtained ONLY IIY ORDINATION under the hands of the Almighty, it is in vain for others to claim the glorious gifts without such ordination. (Luke 4: IS.) "He whom tlrey refused, say- ing, 'who made thee a ruler and a judge;' the same (Moses) did God send to he a RULER and a DELIVERER, hy THE HAND of THE AXUEL who ap- peared to him in the Bush." (Acts 7: 35.) "The Law given unto Moses, who was ordai led BY THE HANDS OF AN- (JELS, to he the mediator of this first covenant, the la w. "-(Gal. 3: 19, In- spired.) "And unto you three (Peter, James and John) will I (Jesus) give this power and the Keys of THIS MINISTRY until I come. "-Doc. &Co v. April 1829.) The Keys to what ministry? The Keys of that same ministry which they bestowed upon Joseph hy the laying on of their hands. "Up- on you three," &c. Then Jesus did not bestow the Keys of this ministry upon all of the twelve in his day? Indeed he did not. Besides, his lan- guage is in the future tense; "I will give," &c., showing that the keys which they conferred upon Joseph Smith HAD NOT YET been conferred upon them. Peter, it seems, was the first ordained to this power and min- 3 istry; James succeeded him. and John followed. It was necessary, there- fore, that these personages, being clothed with the holy priesthood after the order of the Son of (Jod, should be sent to confer that office upon Joseph to enable him to build according to the pattern, and to or- ganize his church upon its ancient foundation and order. How else could Joseph Smith come into pos- session of the keys, gifts and power of that office? I mention the ordina- tion of Moses and that of Jesus, Peter, James and John, to the proph- etic office, as well as that of Joseph Smith, merely to show the necessity of all who hold it or ever did hold it, being ordained to it. And as all these were ordained to this office by the hands of heavenly messengers, who themselves held it, and obtain- ed it in the same way IN THEIR DAY AND GENERATION, SO all HlllSt COllie into possession of it. As this office is the highest and the greatest known to man, or that can he-conferred upon | man, there being no greater, and as I none but one can hold it at the same | time on the earth, there is an abso- i lute necessity that as often as one holding this priesthood is to be suc- ceeded by another, he mustcorneinto possession of it as all the rest have. There is no need nor place for a suc- cessor to this office as long as the predecessor is living, or remains a prophet on the earth, and if Joseph Smith should have ordained his suc- cessor five minutes before he was slain, or "taken," it would be a vio- lation of the oath of God, who said: "and this ye shall know ASSUREDLY, that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations UNTIL, HE BE TAKEN, if he abide in me." A parallel case to this is seen in the case of Elisha and Elijah. The former asked the latter for a double portion of the prophetic gift and power, and that was simply that he might be endow- ed with the prophetic gifts of Elijah. Elijah answered that he had asked "a hard thing," nevertheless if thon see me when I am "TAKEN" it shall be so unto thee, but if not it shallnot be so. No room, .von see, for another like Elijah until he was taken; but when Elijah was taken up from the earth into the chariot of God, he could then act as an angel of light and no doubt the prophetic office was then conferred as in the other cases, by the laying on of hands; for the prophetic gifts are not given only by the laying on of hands of those who possess them. I am aware that Mr. Woodruff has claimed that the Twelve received from Joseph a short time before his death, an endowment of ALL the prophetic gifts and keys which he himself possessed in his prophetic ministrj'. There is not one word of truth in this statement, either in the- ory or in fact. It is teetotally at war with all that God has revealed in the present or past dispensations, first of all. God never in any age of the world, conferred the prophetic gifts upon any more than one at the same time. God promised only to plant another in Joseph's stead, not ten or a dozen. Besides, there is the promise of God, that no one would be appointed to receive command- ments and revelations for the church during his ministry as a prophet, simpl.\,as before observed, because there was neither place nor use for any such person, and never was, un- til he was taken. The following quotations from the Doc. & Cov., show that but one was promised to succeed Joseph, and all history, reason, revelation and com- mon sense, give the lie to the claim of any more. "I have given unto him the keys of the mysteries and revelations which are sealed until I shall appoint unto them (the church) ANOTHER in his stead." Not ten or a dozen. "I have given unto him (Joseph) the keys of the mystery of those things which are sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this-time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, ANOTHER." not ten or a dozen, "will I plant in his stead." "He shall not have power except | to appoint ANOTHER in his stead." "Nevertheless through you (Jos- jeph) shall the oracles (the sealed ! mysteries and revelations; be given | to ANOTHER, even unto the church." ! Here are four testimonies taken from as many revelations given at different times, to assure the Saints that God would appoint ANOTHER in the stead | of Joseph, to lead the church in his stead as Joseph led it, but no more. But the claim of Mr. Willford ! Woodruff is lame in other great points as well as this. You know that God made it a la w to the church that its president is appointed by revelation and that that revelation is to come from God THROUGH JOSEPH, as"The President of the church, who is also the president of the council, IS APPOINTED BY REVELATION (D()C.& Cov. Sec. 102:9.) "Bllt VERILY, VERILY I Say UlltO you, that none else shall be appoint- ed unto THIS GIFT," (that is, the gift of receiving commandments and rev- elations for the Church), "except it be THROUGH HIM." Joseph. "And this shall be a law unto you." &c., "that ye be not deceived" and that ye may know that the revelations of all others but his, who is so appoint- ed of God, through Joseph, are false and will lead to destruction sooner or later. For all thing's in God's K i ngd o in "n re governed bylaw,' 'ami that being true, it must of necessity be, that the call, appointment and ordination of a prophet is fixed and accomplished by Law, and the above is the law, and Brigham Young; never pretended that he was called in a 113- tion, and BEFORE he had been taken himself?!!! Tlwit may do very well to amuse little children with, but no man having- any knowledge of the order of God's house, can ever set that down as a truth. Supposing we admit all this, what evidence is there to show that they possessed ANY ONE of the prophetic gifts of Jos- eph, the Seer, since they laid claim to all this? Absolutely none, and it is such way. Nor has any living or dead man ever claimed to be so appointed but Mr. Strang. They positively surprising that they could could not claim such an appoint- have the hardihood to lay claim to ment, because they never received it any such gifts as Joseph Smith pos- to claim. The Brighamite leaders sessed, knowing, as many do, and never claimed any ordination than all should, that no such gifts have that of the Twelve Apostles. And ever been possessed by them. as their calling and mission is solely Who ever heard of a?iy of them and wholly to the nations of the handling the IJrum and Thuniiniuni. earth, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE or the ancient records and oracles CHIEF SHEPHERD, and not to the | which this instrument is designed to church, we must conclude that the j translate? Is the Book of Mormon God of Israel, who has madeso many to be believed when it testifies that promises that He would"j)lant / 'and j both this instrument and the ancient "appoint another"in. Joseph's stead, records are to be handed down from has fulfilled His word, not only that | generation to generation, or from these men might be regularly sent on , ONE PROPHET TO ANOTHER? Has the their missions, but that the work of I Almighty altered this saying at any Joseph as a prophet, seer, revelator and translator, might go on. And these men, in attempting to get out of their own offices and into an office far superior to theirs, without any legal call or appointment to it, to say nothing of an ordination to it, instead of quietly going on their mis- sions to the nations, merely make themselves deceivers of the people, and their revelations the work of the wicked one. Talk about Joseph endowing the Twelve with every key and every giftthat he possessed himself! Why, if that were possible, it would make the whole Twelve, prophets, seers, revelators and translators, just as he was himself!! And he did all this? made all these men just such as he was himself, and without an ordina- time in the past? Is not the successor of any office, the world over, entitled to the same privileges; the SAME KNOWLEDGE; the samepowERS, PREROGATIVES and AU- THORITY possessed by the predecess- or? And is it not as universal a fact that all successors in any office, must be appointed ACCORDING TO THE SAME LAW, and BY THE SAME POWER, that appointed the predecessor? If God appoints and constitutes one proph- et to-day by one law, and another to succeed him to-morrow by another law, and another regulation, and after a while appoints another suc- cessor in the same office by still another law and power, and so keeps on at it, never appointing and con- stituting any two prophets to stand at the head alike, thus keeping His 6 _ Saints in an eternal puzzle and hide- a mi-go seek to find the truth, I can't conceive of any one who has taken more pains than He to deceive his people, though He has said, "take heed that no man deceive yon.'' But I God forbid that this is the order of things tlint He asks mankind to bow | to. The fault is with man, the blind leaders of the blind; the corrupt and the crafty, and not with the Al- mighty. Remembering that God (as before said ) promised to place another in .Joseph's stead, some four different times; and as it is claimed for the Twelve that they were endowed with all the keys and gifts held by Joseph, the prophet, will you tell us how it happened that Brigliam Young so soon after Joseph's death, so grossly contradicted the Almighty by say- ing: "LET NO MAN PRESUME, FOlt A MOMENT, THAT JOSEPH'S PLACE WILL HE FILLED BY ANOTHER. For re- member that he stands in his OW T II place, and always will, and the Twelve stand in their own place and always will." Is this the kind of evi- dence you have to offer, that Brig- ham and his quorum were endowed with all the keys and gifts held by Joseph, the prophet?' If God changed from the promises abovemade. what was it thatcaused that change? A. ml if He did not, which, of course, is true, then by what authority, or keys or inspira- tion, did Brigham put forth that most emphatic 'decree? Joseph's "place" was at the head of the church ox EARTH.as its leader. That was tlie place that God at four differ- ent times, said He would appoint and ordain one to fill. That was the place, or the "stead referred to by the Almighty." God said He would fill it. Brigham Young stands up in a public congregation and proclaims to all the Saints in all the world: "Let no man presume, fora moment, that Joseph's place will be filled by another, "&c., thus contradicting the Almighty; telling them, also, that Joseph still stood in his own place, when he was cut down and no longer occupied his place at the head of the church on earth. Moreover. he (says: "And the Twelve stand in their own place and ALWAYS WILL;" which in a short time afterward turns out to be false also. For they soon got out of their places after Joseph's death, teaching rind assuming that the Twelve were the proper persons to lead the church, utterly independent of any one else. But through the force of arguments hurled against them by Mr. Strang, they aj-ain change front, and turn and ELECT Brigham Young to stand in Joseph's "place" and two others out of his quorum to be Ins counsellors, and then ordained three others to fill their vacant places in said quorum. And all this in the face of that other saying of Brigham, sent into all the world: "Brethren, you are NOW WITHOUT A PROPHET PRESENT WITH YOi; IN THE FLESH TO GUIDE YOU, bllt i you are not without a.postles,"&c. And yet, after all this, his follow- ers undertake to prove him a, proph- et, "like unto Moses, having all the gifts which God bestows upon the head of the church!" or all the gifts and keys which God conferred upon the prophet Joseph, who who was a prophet ilke unto Moses!!! And now I feel very much like test- ing Brigham Young in the claim set up for him as a successor of the prophet, Joseph Smith, a little fur- ther. You may remember that it is said that "The DUTY of the President of the office of the High priesthood is to preside over the whole ehurch, and belike unto Moses. Behold, here is wisdom! yea to be a seer, n revcla- tor, a translator and a, prophet, having ALL the gifts of God which He bestows upon the head of the church." (Dot.& Cov.Sec. 107: 1)1,92.) When he gave the lie to the above promises of God, was tluU an evi- dence that he was a prophet, and a seer of God like unto Moses? As the Hook of Mormon says that the being put in possession of the Uruiii and Thummium, b.y the power of God, is what constitutes a seer. What evi- dence can you or any one else bring from the testimony of Brigham Young that he ever was a seer after this pattern? And it being written in the Book of Mormon that, the records had and kept among the Xephites were designed to RK IIAXD- KI> DOWN FROM ONE PROPHET TO AN- OTHER, &c. (See 1st Book of Nephi, Chap. 5: 47, also Book of Mosiab, Chap. 13: 3,) and it being claimed by you and others thatBrigham Young was Joseph's lawful successor, in the Presidency and prophetic office, what evidence have you to offer to any honest inquirer, that he either ever handled or saw either these rec- ords or the instrument designed for their translation? Who are his wit- nesses in these matters? I know as well as I wish to know, that Joseph Smith held these records and translated from them by this instrument. I am just as well satis- lied that Mr. Strang did possess these tilings, and did translate from ami by them as Joseph did. 1 have never seen either of these men trans- late and have only their own and their witnesses' testimony for it. Why should i believe Brigham Young or any of his successors to be seers, when neither he nor they, nor any- body else ever testified that he was a seer of this kind? Why should I be- lieve Young Joseph a seer, when neither he nor any one else, as a wit- ness, has ever testified to his being anything of the kind? Did you ever inquire into the merits of the works of Mr. Strang, so as to satisfy your- self that you do not falsely accuse him of being an impostor? Or did you. do with him precisely as the ene- mies of Joseph have done with him, condemn him solely upon the testi- mony of his meanest and basest ene- mies? You know that Joseph's ene- mies believed that he lied for break- fast and dinner and supper, and between meals; when he lay down and when he arose; when he labored and when he rested: that his whole life was one living lie, for the sake of a little paltry gain. And you must have an idea that as Joseph Smith's enemiesdid to him,sodid the enemies | of all the prophets to them. What of it, you say? Nothing, only it would seem that those who were once believers in Joseph Smith have changed places with them, and now do the same thing with his successor. 1 do not forget another plea set up by you and others in behalf of Brig- ham Young, and the right of his quorum to lead the church: namely, that the quorum of the Twelve are co-equal in power and decision with the First Presidency of the church. A graver mistake could not be made by any man or set of men. All officers in the church of like priesthood, are organized into quo- rums, each quorum being entitled to a president and two counsellors, ap- pointed out of their own quorum. The High Priests are entitled to such a president and counsellors. (See page 445, Doc. & Cov. par. 133 to 1 :{(>: also page 385; par. 21 to 23.) Now, it is said in par. 24, that the Twelve Apostles form a quorum "equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously men- tioned." The question arises here: are these three presidents the quorum of THE FIRST PRESIDENCY of the chuch, who preside over the whole Priesthood, and over the whole church, or are they the presidents of the High Priests' quorum? The latter are doubtless the quorum intended. To say that this quorum is the quorum of the FIRST Presidency of the church is virtually to say that there was, in the days of Joseph, no supreme, con- trolling; or governing power in the church; for it is said in the con- nection, that several other quorums were equal in authoriy and power with this quorum, and with each >ther. But in the lifetime of Joseph the Twelve were subject, and amena- ble to, and sent on their missions by, the FIRST PRESIDENCY of the church; and all this shows the superiority of the First Presidency, not only over the Twelve, but over all the church. To say that all the above mention- ed quorums were equal in powerand authority with the First Presidency is simply to say that any one of them might do as they pleased, and there was no one to call them in question or set them in order. But we are assured by revelation, (page 391. Doc. & Cov. 78 par. to 80,) that the First President and his counsel- lors are the HIGHEST council in the church of God, and that their decis- ions are the end of controversy in all spiritual matters brought before it. That is not said anywhere of the de- cisions of the Twelve, nor of any othfM 1 quorum in the church, for they all can be called in question and ap- pealed from, in their decisions. except the decisions of this quorum. Moreover. the Twelve, at the death of Joseph Smith, had nothing to do with the regulating of the affairs of the church at Nauvoo, or any other ORGANIZED stake of Zion. Thev are everywhere spoken of as a traveling, presiding high council, officiating in the name of the Lord under the di- rection of the First Presidency , whose duty and mission is, abroad among the nations of the earth, opening up the gospel tothe inhabitants thereof. Yet, as soon as Joseph and Hyrum were taken, they assumed the reins of government and authority, over the whole church, and not only under- take to cut off Sidney Rigdon, a man over whom they had no authority, but undertake to cut off Mr. Strahg, also, who held the written appoint- ment by revelation through Joseph, as his lawful successor, without so much as giving him a hearing, which every accused man, both in and out of the church, is entitled to, and should have! Now, you have spoken somewhat against Mr. Strang's appointment, and claims of angelic ordination, but for the sake of consistency, DO put some kind of a decent face, if possible, upon Brigham Young's career and claims to succeed the prophet, Jos- eph; and until you can accomplish this, DO be silent about the claims of Mr. Strang or anybody eise. It is true that Mr. Strang was or- dained a King, and a great deal of ado has been made about it by some Mormons. You may never have heard of it, but it is just as true that Joseph Smith was ordained to the Kingly office. Both William Marks and George Miller have put it on record that Joseph Smith, some time before his martyrdom, was also ordained a King. Any one who has a copy of Chas. H. Thompson's old "HAR- WNGER AND GROAN, "and Gen. George Miller's correspondence with the "NORTHERN ISLANDER," in the early fifties, can very clearly read that fact for himself. William Marks, you know, \vlio was 1 hen Ch as. B.Thompson's "Chief Teacher in Jehovah's Presbytery, of /ion," and who, in 1X(iO, ordained young Joseph Smith to ho his father's successor in the prophetic office, at Ainboy, 111., and who was associated with the said ("has. P>. Thompson for some seven years he- fore, has taken groat pains to inform us of the Kindly ordination of Joseph Smith, as well as that plural mar- riage was introduced, and practiced in Nan voo, about the same time. You say, perhaps, what of all this? Nothing, except merely this: that both Joseph and James, were very much alike in these matters, as well as in all other things. So that if the one is condemned for these things the other is also. And if the one is blameless and blessed, the other is. For my own part, I cannot see any more wrong in being anointed a ' Kingthan in being anointed a Bishop j or a High Priest. They are all offi- j cers belonging to the Holy Priest- hood. Whatever argument or train of j thought conspires to overthow James, will also overthrow Joseph; for what the predecessor is the suc- cessor is and MI;ST be also. Tt is true that the successor of Joseph would not need to commence and reveal anew precisely the same things that Joseph did, but he would begin where Joseph left off and continueto reveal the same things which Joseph would have revealed had he been permitted to continue as a prophet of God to his people. That is pre- cisely the direction in which Mr. Stra.ng folio wed. Joseph Smith and all theother prophets, ha ve informed us, that the Latter Day dispensation is to be made up of all the dispensa- tions of the past. (See Joseph's sec- ond letter on Baptism for the dead, __ 'i par. is. Compendium, page 1 i::. Acts :',: 21.) Joseph Smith merely commenced this groat work by first revealing the first principles of the gospel and the order of the priesthood, but this ; only in part; ( First letter on Baptism for the dead, par, is,) and many other things necessary to the work of the ministry and the gathering of the saints. But he did not reveal but a small part of that which is to come forth in this dispensation. The Book of Mormon tells us in more than a dozen places, that the ''one hundredth part" of the things had | and done among the Nephites, are not contained in Mormon's abridge- ment,' and the New Testament ; abounds with sayings, references and allusions to things once known among the Ansient Saints, which are not, as yet, understood by the Latter Day Saints. There is very little of the Apocalypse understood. There are many sayings in Paul's writings that are anything but clearly under- stood; as, for instance, the change that was- made in the priesthood, that, of necessity, made a change in the law. (Heb. 7: 12.) And there are, also several other chapters which have, to us, meaningless sayings. Galations 3: 19, speaks of a, law that was added because of trans- gressions in the time of Moses, and was to remain in force till Christ. Ezekiel 20: 25, also speaks of that Taw, and says it "was not good." and that it was added because of transgressing laws. Sabbaths, stat- utes and judgments which had been previously given them in Sinai. But neither Ezekiel nor Paul tell us what that law was. The Book of Mormon also says much about that law but does not tell us clearly what it is. Revelation only can make this and the many other things, clear to the 10 __ understanding- of the Saints. There is but a little of the Book of Isaiah understood, although nearly all of it refers to these last days. Questions grow out of baptism for the dead as .Joseph left it; as who, or what offi- cer in the priesthood i authorized to baptize for their dead? What are the conditions and qualifications of those who are baptized for their dead, and how far back among our ancestors are we authorized to go in being baptized for them? These are all questions of vital importance un- answered by Joseph Smith in what he has left us on this ordinance of baptism for the dead. I mention these things, and any amount more might be mentioned, to show that he merely commenced the dispensa- tion of the fullness of times. And now. we know that Brigham Young never revealed a single item of these lost or covered dispensations. Nor did any one of his successors; neither has any oneelse if it be proper to ignore Mr. Strong as .Joseph Smith's lawful successor. Now. Paul tells us that God, by means of the dispensation of the full- ness of times, is going to gather all things both in heaven and in earth IN o.\ K, in Christ. (Ephes. 1:10.) And I am sure I can see no way that all things can be united in one, only by revealing all the dispensations of the past, and bringing all intosubjection to them. How are the Saints of these days to be united and made* one with the Saints of former times, unless by becoming acquainted with the law and the testimony and the counsels of God that governed and led them? And how can we become acquainted with and obey these things unless they are revealed tons? When Israel entered the land of Canaan they were free and independ- ent of all other nations. Then they had no laws but God's laws to govern them, either in their secular or spiritual affairs. God was "their King and their law-giver." His law alone ruled them, both in peace and in war; in their incomings and in their out-goings, in their week days i and on their Sabbaths, in their feast- jings and their mournings, in their I social gatherings, and in their loneli- | ness. There was no such distinction | among them as church and state. I Their church officers and state offi- | cers were all one. And, as a matter 1 of course, this law that so ruled the people of God in those ages, MT -ST irOMK FORTH IN THIS AUK. Idoiiot [say that it must come forth to set I aside the political law of this land, or any other land. But as God has decreed thedestruction of the nations in these days, and the setting up of His Kingdom upon their ruins, it becomes a matter of the highest necessity that this law of God be FIRST revealed, and the Saints made acquainted with it, so that when the nations of the earth are going down by the judgments of God, they inn.v be able to establish the order of the Kingdom of God in their stead, just as it has been in the past, but to much greater perfection. In harmony with this, God gave Mr. Strang a considerable part of this law, besides various revelations which guided him in the same work, which he commenced by Joseph Smith. All these things speak for them- selves, and show to the lover of truth that the same master mind that guided Joseph Smith, guided .lames J. Strang. The Knowledge of God does not, in these days, any in ore than in any other, come in and take possession of men's minds without thought, re- flection and careful investigation. Let men lay by their prejudices, and honestly think, reflect and investi- gate, and compare spiritual thing** with spiritual, find we are not one whit afraid hut what they will find the works of Mr. Strang as sound as the works of any other prophet, es- pecially that commenced by the prophet, Joseph, and in exact har- mony with them, too. Before closing; this letter, I must return again, for a moment, to the necessity of Joseph's successor being ordained. "We do not," says the prophet Joseph, "consider ourselves bound to receive any revelation from any one man or woman, without their being legally constituted AND ORDAINED to that authority and given SUFFICIENT PROOF of it. "(Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, page 752. ) This, taken in connection with the saying, "shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you (the church) before;" and the further fact that Moses, Jesus, Peter, James and John, and Joseph Smith; yes, and all the Holy prophets since the world began, have all been ordained to the office of prophet, seer, revela- tor and translator, and to all the gifts which God bestows upon the head of the church, and by heavenly messengers, too, all make A MIGHTY AND STRONG POINT AGAINST Brighaill Young. This being true of all the prophets since the days of Adam, upon what ground shall Brigham Young and his successors be exempt- ed from its necessity? I am not now T addressing myself to the Reorganized gentlemen who teach that Joseph was a prophet, seer, revelator and translator before his ordination under the hands of Peter. James and John, who they say, did not lay their hands on Joseph and Oliver, but merely or- dained them as sectarians do, bv 11 commanding these unordained men to ordain one another, thus building up another sectarian church. lint I am addressing myself to a man or men who I believe have a much bet- ter sense of the nature and impor- tance of an ordination, that is, a genuine ordination, under the hands of those who were themselves or- dained, and who, at least, hold that degree of the priesthood which they undertake to confer on others. It is true that the first or leading officers of the Church are "first apostles, "but it is very evident that in the order of apostles there are dif- ferent degrees. Joseph Smith was an apostle of the highest or first dregree. His counsellors or assistants in the Pres- idency, are also apostles, but of sec- ond a ry d eg ree . T h e T w five a re next below the first and second degree, and are subject to them, and they are neither prophets, seers, revel a tors nor translators to the church, and are never in tlie law of the church, spoken of as such. Herein is the dif- ference between Brigham Young and his quorum, and the one whom God places at the head of the church. The assistant presidents art 1 proph- ets, seers and revelators, but are not allowed to write their revelations for the government of the church. Where, then, had Brigham Young the right to be a revelator to the church? Joseph alone held the keys of mysteriesand revelations, and had the right, in virtue of his ordination, to stand in the presence of God, and give the word of God as from His own mouth. No other apostle in the church held any such right. "Thou," Oliver Cowdery, "shall not command him who is at thy head and at the head of the church. For 1 have given him (Joseph) the KEYS Of the MYSTERIES and THE REVELA- TIONS which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead." (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 28: 0,7.) 'And I have given unto him (Joseph) the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the founda- tion of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not another will I plant in his stead/' (Sec. 35: IS.) "And this greater priesthood (that is, the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God.) holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the Knowledge of God." (Sec. S4: 19.) You perceive, then, that it is this highest nnd "most holy order" of the priesthood that holds the key of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, the key of the knowledge of God. How, then, could Brigham Young or his successor, or young Joseph Smith or anybody else, come in pos- session of these keys without this highest and most holy order of priesthood? And how could he or any one else come in possession of this most Holy order of the priest- hood, only HS Joseph and Moses, and Jesus and Peter, James and John and others, all of whom obtained it only under the hands of heavenly messengers? I will now examine Brigh'am Young's temple building. In the first place, they are all very fine in taste and architecture; exceedingly expen- sive, and so far as mere human wis- dom and skill are concerned, are well worthy of any people. But the great trouble with them all is, they are great piles of cold stone, laid up by man's wisdom and not by the direc- tion or commandment of God, in which neither God nor the angels of His presence, put in any appearance. any more than they do in the great cathedrals of the Roman Catholic Chnrch. I fear not to say that those Utah temples have been pointed from the laying-of the very first stone to the very highest point on their towers and steeples, and that first and last they have been, and still arc A STIXK IX THE XOSTKILS OF Goi) Al,- MKJ1ITY AND OF THE ANCJELS WHO AUK His MIXISTKKS. For first of all, the Almighty God never, either called the people there; and in the second place Brigham Young was a gross usurper, who took the name of the Almighty God in vain, not having a shadow of right to the place and position lie assumed over the Latter Day Saints. (Doc. & Cov. Sec. (5:3: 01 to C>3. ) I know very well, and I think you ought to know it, too. that every temple and tabernacle mentioned in Holy Writ, where God commanded His people, through a, true prophet, to build a house untoHim according j to the pattern which He gave them by revelation, that His glory and His presence was there. And the honest and pure in heart were entire- ly satisfied that it was so. For when Moses had reared up the tabernacle in the wilderness, "Then a cloud covered I he tent of the congregation, and the glory of 1 lie Lord filled the tabernacle." I Ex. 40: :>4 1o :>S. ) A n to 10, there is a very similar testimony. "For verily, this generation shall not all pass away, until a house be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord which shall fill the house. "-(Sec. 84: 5.) we do learn this: that a temple of! So, now, if the glory of God has the Lord is a habitation of God, been, and is to be, in all these cases, where honest men and women may ; wne re, we ask in all candor, is the go and petition Him upon any sub- glol . y of God in al , y(mr grpat J5| .. g _ ject that concerns their welfare here ham Young temples and tabernacles? or hereafter, and get answers their prayers. Behold Samuel's mother pouring , kllow nothing of the order of the outher soul's desire inthe tabernacle , H)lv priesthood, and in agreement t() You see how nicely one thing har- monizes with another. The Popes nt Shiloh,and the glorious blessing Hhe received. Also, Rebecca went away to inquire of the Lord touch- ; ing her posterity. She likely went and call them houses of God, &c., but to the temple of the Lord built in the Almighty, through the angels of with tneh . destitution of its ordi- , mnces aml Rifts , thev bu|Ic , W onder- Mb , nne eniirene8 and cathedrals, presence, enters not these. What is the difference between them and yours? There are no mysteries of those days. (Gen. 25: 21 to 23.) "One thing." says David, "have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house the past, present, or to come, reveal- of the Lord all the days of my life, to j ed in any of the great Catholic or BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE i. OKU, ; Protestant churches, though they and to INQUIRE ix His TEMPLE. "-(Ps. j cost many hundreds of millions to 27: -M erect them. Is there any of the lost When he was troubled by the in- j things of Holy Writ, or any mystery crease of the ungodly in the land, he j ot - t he past, present, or to come, re- says, iti going into the sanctuary or house of God to inquire concerning them. "Then, "said he, ''understood i their end." (Ps. 73: 1 to IS.) "And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me, in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean tiling to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest rpoxit, vealed in any of the great temples of Utah any more than in the Catholic or Protestant temples? Are there any calamities that afflicted the peo- ple or oppressions exercised over them, removed? Do insects, bugs, worms and blights prey upon the crops of Utah now aw bad and even worse than before? And what bet- 14 ter are you off in any way, since the building and dedication of those wonderful temples, than you were be- fore? See, now, tht the ancient temples of God were all built to bring- blessings of all kinds, and put away curses and calamities of all kinds; but what have you se- cured, or driven off? "O, we have done wonders for our dead; many thousands have been baptized f-r their dead relatives, and thus we halve secured their sal- vation," etc., say you. O fools! If the dead could speak they would cry out against your folly and vanity, and ask you what good you can do for them when you can secure NO COOK FOR YOURSELVES? How can you save us when you are not saved yourselves? When you left Nan voo and crossed the Mississippi, to go into the wilds of the west where God I never called you to go. instead of go- ing to Voree, Wisconsin, where he I DID call you to go, through the! prophet .Joseph, yon forfeited priest- hood, and membership in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, j rind both you and your dead were i rejected according to the decrees of God given before, in that same city, and we are satisfied from what is written that unless you speedily re- pent, your dead will not only curse you in days to come, but the glory i and honor of raising them up will be given to others. Therefore it is no great wonder that your leaders, once so mighty in argument, and mighty in testimony, should now fear to take up' the gauntlet which fools and fanatics have thrown down, and have be- come weak as other men, as Samson of old. "O, but have we not accomplished wonders in settling and irrigating and making homes, cities, towns and villages in the Rocky moun- tains? We have translated the Book of Mormon into many languages, and we have preached to and gath- ered out many people from the na- tions of the earth and given them homes and made them acquainted with the things of God," etc. Perhaps you have never thought that wicked men ma.y do such things as these, and even greater by a good deal. "Now will I point out a mystery: Many SINNERS shall turn and trans- gress against the word of upright- ness. They shall speak evil things; they shall utter falsehood; EXECUTE GREAT UNDERTAKINGS, and COMPOSE BOOKS IN THEIR OWN WORDS." (Prophecy of Enoch touch- ing the last days. ) So you see that those who turn and 1 ransgress the word of uprightness, apeak evil i things, and utter falsehoods, CAN I ACCOMPLISH GREAT UNDERTAKINGS," land write many Books. There is a, class of men, also, who are going to come up before the Saviour by and by, yon know, for judgment, who will plead before him that they have done a great many "wonderful works" in hrs name, who will be surprised to hear him say: "Verily I say unto you, you know me not; de- part from me ye workersof iniquity." You will find then, friend Roberts, that God is just as good as his word; that both you and all your co-lead- ers with vourdeml are rejected, not- withstanding all your wonderful do- ings. You may remember also that God has said: "If they (the church ) are not ORGANIZED according to mv law they shall be cut off." (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 51:1, 2. ) A great deal is said about the re- maining of the priesthood "in you and your lineage until the restora- tion of all things, etc.," but we must not forget the other sentence follow- ing: "Therefore blessed are ye IF YE ro.vn.Nf K IN MY ( i ooi>.\ Kss, i\ ligh t to the Gentiles., -mil through t his priest- hood ;i Saviour unto my people." l See. S(>:10, 11.) Query: Were the .feus cut off for rejecting the Sav- iour? Did not the priesthood con- tinue with them and their lineage? Was William E. McLlellan, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and fifty other prominent men in the church in this generation cut off and the priesthood taken from them? Did the\ inherit the right to this priest- hood from their fathers? Was it taken from them for evil-doing? And, if taken from all these for evil- doing, what is to save the whole fra- ternity of the Salt Luke leaders from the like fate, when guilty of like crimes? "Say not we have Abraham to our father, for God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." ( Math. 3:!).') Remember that the Kingdom of God has not yet ceased to suffer vio- lence and that the violent have not yet ceased to take it by force. (Math. 11:1*2,) Remember, too. that false shepherds may possess and rule and lead the sheep or the church of God. even in these last days for a time; but the promise of God is that he will cause them to cease to FEED HIS FLOCK and deli ver them out of their hands. Any one who carefully reads the 34th chap, of Ezekiel may see this most satisfactorily for himself; and he will see moreover that this chap- ter refers wholly to these last days. God sa.vs here that lie is going to re- (juii-eHis FLOCK at the hands of these false shepherds; and even in Joseph's day. when deception was beginning to (Miter into the church, God says: "Woe unto them who are DEOEIV. ERS and HYPOCRITES; for thus saith the Lord I will bring them to judg- ment. I'ehold verily I say unto you there are hypocrites among yon. and have deceived some, which has given the adversary power, but behold sucu SHALL mo KKCLAIMKD; but the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off either in life or in death, even as I will, and woe unto those.who are cut off from my church for the same are overcome of the world." (Sec. r>0:( to 1). ) " Whereforeletall men beware how they take my name in their lips; for behold verily I say that many there be who are under this condemnation; who use the name of God, and use it in vain, having not authority. Wherefore let the church repent of their sins, and I the Lord will own them, otherwise they shall be cut off." (Sec. 63: (>1 to 63. ) 1 You see by this testimony how nearly the church came to be rejected as early as August, 1831, and by much that is written on this point you may all learn that God has in no way obliged himself to regard or acknowledge any people as his church, who disregard his counsels and refuse to hear the voice of his chosen prophets. You all teach that God changes not; that such AS he wasin ages past such he is to-day without any doubt. Now he said in thepast to the Proph- et Jeremiah: "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to build and to plant it, if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then will I repent of 'the good, wherewith I said I would 'benefit them."(Jer. IS: 7 to 10.) Moreover, Joseph has told the church in his day, that, "If Zion does not purify herself so astobe ap- proved of in all things in the sight of God, he will seek himself another peo- ple, for his work will go on until Israel is gathered, and they who wiH 10 not hear his voice, must expect to feel his wrath." (Times & Seasons Vol. 5: page 720.) The spokes of a wheel do not point with any more certainty to its center than that all these things points you out as a deceived and a rejected people. You may count Brigham Young 1 and his successor's every certainly will be very welcome. And just as you have not hearkened to the voice of God, but have mobbed the messengers of God out of the city of the Saints, so God has sent men unto you who did not regard you nor your petitions, nor your plead- ings, but have dragged you to prison, and robbed you by fines and word of advice and counsel as so i penalties without mercy or feeling many revelations from God, and thus ! for either the aged or the young or blaspheme and profane thecharacter j the indigent among you. And the of theGod of Israel, but you never can ! floodgates of vice and crime of every succeed in showing any one of them ! kin <* have been opened against you in possession of the keys and gifts '<>">' children to seduce and de- which always belonged to the pro- stroy them. And my opinion is phetic office, to which Joseph Smith that you will be punished "seven and all his predecessors were called times more" and "seven times more," by the voice of God and ordained, ""til the day that you repent of all You may tell us about your "Priest- l these evils, or else are blotted out by hood meetings," and reprove your the coming of the Lord .Jesus. God followers for being disobedient and >'s He will exalt His people j n rebellious against the Priesthood, righteousness, and deliver them in &c.. but most earnestly we would judgments, and that He will make admonish you to look well and see U8e of the Gentiles to chastise them whether you have any priesthood, an(1 bring them to repentance. For and to consider whether it would not if they will not turn from their false be just as proper for you as leaders leaders and teachers when faithfully to hearken to your followers, a* for ; warned aiid shown their errors them to hearken to you. For as i "the heaviest of all judgments," the truly as God appointed James J. Almighty says, is theirs. Strang, through the prophet Joseph, | We testify to all the peopleof Utah to take his place in the leadership of the Church, so surely have the priest- hood of all your leaders who have refused to hearken to that Letter of appointment, been taken from them; and so surely as you have crossed over the Mississippi out of the citv of Xauvoo, under the leadership of the Twelve, to go into the wilder- ness under such leadership, instead of going where that letter required you to go, so surely were you all re- jected with your dead, as a people; for this is the very place, and point of your rejection. And, now, if you can get beyond this into the King- dom of God, without repentance, you that God did, according ti> His prom- ises to Joseph, raise up and appoint James J. Strang by revelation through Joseph, and ordained him by the hands of angels, according to the pattern, to stand in Joseph's stead to lead his people, and that at the earliest possible time afterward, that he sent his messengers to Nau- voo to inform and to warn you of it, and that the revelation of appoint- ment also appointed Voree as a gathering place and refuge of peace from persecution, and commanded the Saints at Nauvoo and in all tli< k world, to gather there, and obtain inheritances therein; that all were required to stand in their proper places that the work of God might go on in its usual strength. We also testify to .von that Mr. Strung was a prophet, a SF,KR,a TRANSLATOR and a RKVELATOR as Joseph was; that he held the Urirn and Thum mi in, and did translate ancient records by that instrument, as Joseph Smith did; and that he gave all men sufficient proof of these things. We do not believe that the Church was rejected "at thedeath of Joseph" as Young Josephites vainly and un- lawfully teach; nor do we believe that any one is authorized to so teach. But we can tell you very truly that a court assembled at Voree on the sixth day ot April, eighteen hundred and forty-six, hav- ing lawful jurisdiction of the case, and did there and then at the mouths of many witnesses deliberate on the cases of your leaders, did try and condemn them as USURPERS, TEACH- ERS OF FALSE DOCTRINE, for TYRRANY, 17 for OPPRESSION and ROMHERY OF TIII; SAINTS, with various other charges, and that their priesthood and mem- bership was there and then taken from them, and that they were de- livered over to the buffetings of Satan until they repent and make satisfaction; and these things are all on record from that day to the pres- ent, and can be seen by all who may wish to do so. Bnt the WHOLE PEO- PLE, as before stated, were rejected with their dead when they crossed the Mississippi out of Nauvoo, to follow Brigham Young to the west- ern wilds; for God never called them to go there, or to follow any such man or men. Having borne a faithful testimony to all these things, I now close my letter. Truly and Sincerely, WINGFIELD WATSON. Spring Prairie, Wis., Nov. 13, 1894 TO GEORGE Q. CANNON. DEAR SIR: In your Sermon in the Deseret Weekly News of March 14, 1896, yon have very coolly accused Gen. George Miller, or Bishop Miller, with criminal conduct with women, and that on that account he lost the spirit and denied the faith. Permit me to tell you, sir, that Gen. George Miller was no such man as you have pictured him. 1 doubt very sincere! v that you have a more upright and sterling man in all your ranks, than was Gen. George Miller, not only from the day of his baptism till his death, but throughout his whole life. He was an honorable, brave and true man, every inch of him, and would scorn to be guilty of the crime you accuse him with, or any other thing mean or cowardly. Do you think that God did not know what He was about when He said: "Let no man despise my servant Georgp, FOR HE SHALL HONOR MR?" There is no IF nor HUT nor any other proviso here. "He SHALL honor me." And remember, this was given of him but. a short while before Joseph's death, and the HONOR, therefore, that Bro. Miller was to do the Almighty, was yet in the future. He never aposta- tized, but he disdained to follow lirigham Young in HIS APOsTAry,and <;ROSS USURPATION. Gen. Miller was one of the truest friends that Joseph, the prophpt, ever had. And it very illy becomes j you or any other man who claims j faith in Joseph, to accuse him of gross crime and misdemeanors. His house and possessions, which were large, were given freely to the poor suffering Saints when they arrived in Quincy, Illinois, bleeding and cold and hungry and robbed and driven by the tender mercies of Missouri mob violence; and had it not been for his own means, when he was made Bishop, many of the poor would have suffered, if they had not I died, from want. Joseph Smith and I Hy rum, had unlimited confidence in him. Besides, his labors to build the temple, and the amount of his toils in traveling back and forward over the wilds of Wisconsin, to and from Blackriver Falls to make and bring down lumber for the Nan voo Temple and other buildings, was simpl.v pro- digious. It is very easy for those who have grown to ease, wealth and affluence with little toil, to stand up and ac- cuse such men with crime and apos- tacy, but in the day of God's righte- ous judgment Gen. George Miller will i be there, and I imagine that his ac- cusers will not like to face him, and that they will greatly prefer to be somewhere else. He became poor for the poor's sake, and wore himself out in labor i and toil such as is scarcely believable by ordinary men, for the common welfare of the people. By the way, accusing men of sex- ual criminal, and branding them as "apostates," has come to be a very convenient way of getting rid of those who are opposed to our pro- ceedings, and refuse to be led by un- authorized men. But God does not let such men as Gen. George Miller slip very easily through His tinkers, I can tell you. The General followed Brlgham's I*M nip from NMIIVOO to (Council Bluffs, F believe, on the supposition that young .Joseph Smith was appointed by his fuMier to succeed him, a belief that Bringam Young, by cunning in- nuendos. created in many others as well as him, (see Prophetic Contro- versy, page 3, note 2,) but when it was proclaimed iti that camp that they were abut to ELECT a First Pres- 1 idency, and Brigham began to give revelations in the name of the Lord, j and undertook to lead the Church as | Joseph Smith did, without either an ; appointment by revelation, or any ordination that authorized him to ; act in any such office, Gen. Miller did there and then utterly refuse to fol- low him further. Here is the sum of Gen. Miller's "apostacy." He never apostatized from the faith; nor did he apostatize from Brigham Young- ism; for he could notapostatize from that which he never adhered to or received. "When we got to winter quarters," says the General, (about the 28th of January, 1840,) "I had presented to me a revelation given through Brigham Young, in regard to the journeyingof theSaints west. Young intimated to me, also, that a First Presidency would be organized. I was so greatly disgusted at the bad composition and folly of this revela- tion, as also the intimation that a First Presidency would be organ- ized, that I \v MB from this time deter- mined to go with him no longer, and to look out a place where I might support my family, and remain until the true shepherd of God's flock should show himself, to lead the Church and Kingdom of God." General George Miller knew mighty xvell that "this greater Priesthood," that is, that Priesthood xvhich is after the HOLIEST order of God, xvhich 1'.) Joseph Smith held, "holdeth the key of the mysteriesof the Kingdom, even the key of the Knowledge of God;" (Doc.&Cov. Sec, 84: 18-19.) and that no man can hold that order of the priesthood unless he is called and or- dained to it as Joseph, himself, was. And that as Brigham Young was never either called to it'or ordained to it, after that manner, he could not hold the keys that belong to it. And Mr. Cannon, knoxving as you must, | that Brigham Young never received I an ordination to any such office, it is ; astounding, to me, that you or any- one else, knowing the nature and vir- tue of a true ordination, could be found advocating the claims of Brig- ham Young as a prophet of God, and a successor to the prophet, Joseph Smith! Would you call a man an elder who xvas never ordained an elder? Would yon call a man ahigh- ! priest xvho xvas never ordained to that office' YVould you call any one an apostle xvho was never ordained to that office? You knoxv that all those called assistant presidents of | the Church in Joseph Smith's day, were all ordained to it, and xvill you persist in calling Brigham Young an apostle of the very highest order, such as Joseph xvas, without being- ordained to it as he (Joseph; xvas? And don't you knoxv that as you never had such an office as this among you since Joseph xvas taken, THAT YOU CAN HAVE NO LAXVFULLY ORDAINED BISHOPS AMONG YOU? Be- cause no bishop, unless ordained under the hands of just such a presi- dent of the Church, can be lawfully ordained? (Doc.&Cov. Sec. 72: 20.) Mr. Cannon, you and your co-lead- ers have long led the people by a false and usurped authority; but it seems to me that the time for a full ex- posure of your falseclaimshaspretty clearly arrived. There are no more r talis to flee to, and railroads are plenty, and truth for that purpose is rich and abundant. One thing is certain, God will, sooner or later, hurl the usurpers from their high places, as one of old, to crop the grass of the field till they learn not to usurp or blaspheme His holy name and character with their unholy claims and hollow pretentious. "He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity." I could tell you a good deal more about General George Miller than you know; and of him I could freely say: "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." I would covet no higher hon- ors, nor any greater reward than that which I feel well assured will be his. There was no hypocrisy about him, nor seeking of place nor power to which he was never called; and it did not take him long to tell such men as Brigham Young just what he thought of him. "Don't attempt," said he to Mr. Young, "to put your- self upon a par with the prophet, Joseph. The contrast is as wide as between the ox and the toad." He was not one of that class of men who could see that either "Elijah's mantle" or the prophet, "Joseph's mantle" had fallen either on theTwelve or on Brigham Young, nor had the least faith in such con- temptible sectarian folly. He want- ed a little more evidence than a mere dramatic gesture, before he could be- lieve that any such "mantle" had fallen upon any such man or men. But in a time of great suffering and trial God gave him a glorious vision, in which he was shown the calling of James J. Strong, which he saw at a glance, was in direct harmony with the law providing for a successor to the prophet Joseph. And that most clearly and satisfactory v settled that question forever with him. Now, friend Cannon, WE do not think that truth is a very delicate child, or that it is at all' liable to take cold by a little EXPOSURE. You may imagine that silence lends an air of dignity, sectarian-like, but God, and observing men, know that you discuss in your columns and everywhere else a thousand other questions. And why not this ques- tion of your right to lead theChurch? Perhaps you will put off the honest inquirer as to why you don't like to discuss this one question, by saying as the Lamoni. or Joseph! te Herald, that "this Strangite is seeking noto- riety," and "we don't want to write | them into notoriety," &c. But why don't you say the same things to all your opponents, whenever a chal- jlenge to debate any other question | comes up? W T hy did you not put off j Parson Newman in that way? Why [charge your elders NOT to discuss | this question above all others? Ace I you afraid that your followers will j find out that you not have the truth on your side in this very important question, as well as in others? Have thelltah Mormons really got so that they like to see their elders whipped out on the most important point in their faith? Why do you all make it your business to prove your doctrine by the scriptures, but make this one very important question an exception to all the rest? Or has it got, like the Catholic Trinity and other mys- teries, "too heavenly to be under- stood?" Did Jesus ever say: "I will give you a month and wisdom which ALL your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist?" And did he ever say that: "Every tongue that shall rise up against you in judgment, you shall have power to condemn?" and that "this is the HERITAGE of his ser- vants?"-^ Doc. & Co v. Sec. 71: 7 to 10- Isaiah 54: 17.) "Notoriety?" 0,1113'! Aside from the miMUATiox, and a desire to do good to my fellows, I sincerely doubt whether there is a man between here and Lamoni, and from thereto Salt LakeCity, who cares less for notorie- tv than vonr humble servant!! But 21 yon can very easily stop his mouth, if you have the truth on your side. And now, DO so, for he is not one of that class of men "who, even though vanquished, can argue still." TKULY, W. W. A FULL HISTORY OF THE LETTER OF APPOINTMENT WRITTEN BY THE PROPHET, JOSEPH SMITH, TO JAMES J. STRANG, AND ITS RECEPTION AT BUR- LINGTON, W1S., AS KEPT BY THE APPOINT- ED CHURCH SCRIBE. The following statement immedi- ately follows the Letter of Appoint- ment in the church record kept in Yoree, from the day of its reception July J), 1844 down to the present time, and is sufficiently explicit as a history of that, to ns, very important document. W. W. "1. And now it appears that this letter was on this wise: In Febru- ary in the year eighteen hundred and forty-four, James J. Strung:, in com- pany with Aaron Smith, and under his teaching, visited Nauvoo, the city of the Saints and there, was more fully instructed by Joseph Smith, H.vruni Smith and Sidney Rigdon, in the gospel. :>. On the twenty-fifth day of Feb- ruary in that year, he was baptized by Joseph Smith who gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and blessed him with many and great blessings, and said: 'I seal upon thy head against God's good time, the keys of the Melchize- dec Priesthood:' and afterward, but in the same ordinance: 'thon shall hold the keys of the Melchizedec Priesthood; shalt walk with Moses, Enoch and Elijah, and shalt talk with God face to face.' ':>. And on the third day of March in the sa me year, he was ordained an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by the laying on of the hands of Hyrum Smith, ac- cording to the testimony and the Spirit of Prophecy, and the word of the Holy Ghost; and he said: 'I per- ceive by the spirit which is within me, that thon shalt carry the gospel with the spirit like flaming fire, to many nations, and b.v thee shall God save the pure of his people." "4. At this time much was said of the necessities of the Saints, for want of a suitable country for settle- ment, where they could avoid perse- cution and continual molestation, and the prophet Joseph asked coun- sel of James J. Strang, who was greatly learned in geography, in re- gard to many countries, especially California, New Mexico find Oregon, and he advised an exploration of thosecoun tries fordetermining what facilities they offered for settlement, and gave much information in re- gard to them, both for the guidance of the explorers and to determine what parts were worth exploration. "5. He also advised a settlement of the Saints to be formed immediately on White River in Wisconsin, to con- sist of mechanics and artisan from the Northern and Eastern states. and Provinces of America, and from Europe, because the climate of Nau- voo is unfavorable to the health of such, and the place does not furnish business wherewith to employ thorn; both which ililiirnlt ics would be en- tirely obviated by such ;in ariange- iiieut, and niiin.v other advantages would be gained in peaceable, la w- abiding neighbors, cheapness of ac- cess and facilities for building. "('. The exploration of the Nebms- ka country. New Mexico and upper California was immediately deter- inined on. and arrangements eom- nienced for sending out twenty -five ex plorcrs during the following sum- mer. "7. It was enjoined upon James J j Stran^ by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon. to return to \Visconsinand make more full ex- aminationsof thecountry withdirect reference to the ad.vantages it might offer to the Saints, and to write to Joseph the results of that examina-j tion, after which he would determine by the best light that God would give him, what ought to be done. "8. Aaron Smith concurred with James J. Strang In recommending' a gathering- in Wisconsin, and counsel- ed the selection of the country on White River as the place for planting' a, Stake of Zion; and it was agreed by all that the thing should he look- ed upon with favor and prosecuted with vigor to a final result. "9. On the 24i h day of May, 1S44, James J. Strang having completed his examinations and inquiries, wrote th*' result in a letter to Joseph Smith, to which Aaron Smith a few days Jifter added a note, concurring therein, and attesting the facts there- in stated. "10. The letter contained a minute statement of the advantages for the settlement of the Saints, which the southeastern section of Wisconsin offered, more especially for the build- ing of a town on White River, im- mediately west 'f Burlington. It was put in the post-office at Burling- ton, directed to Joseph Smith of Nanvoo, AHOCT THE LAST OF MAY itv AARON SMITH. "11. Moreover the preceding letter (of appointment. -\V . W. ) is in answer thereto, and was mailed at Xauvoo, on the 19th day ot June, which plain- ly appears by the post-mark thereon, and directed to James J. Strung at Burlington in Wisconsin, at which place it arrived by mail at the time before stated, and was taken from the post-office on the same day by Caleb P. Barnes, an attorney at law. find by him delivered to James J. Strang IN THK PRESENCE OF AARON SMITH, WHO IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN TOGETHER AND OPENED AND READ THE LETTER." Mr. Blair, at the East Jordan de- bate, spoke with an air of great as- surance, against the idea of Mr. Strang giving Joseph Smith counsel in relation to- desirable territory for the location ol the Saints, as follows: "We deny, "says Mr. Blair, "that Joseph Smith asked counsel of Mr. Strang where to locate the Church. It was unreasonable. Mr. Strang' had just come into the church; and besides that, Joseph then had his la wful counsellors. There were also many learned men in the church who were fully competent to give counsel if needed." Biit, par. 5: and THKSE THREE MEN- SAT DOWN TOGETHER, while Mr. Strang read the letter. Where is the chance for forgery here? If all this amounts to forgery, in thenameof truth, what letter that has ever been received by any man since the world began can be proved genuine? Now, there is another thing that is of much importance touching this letter. If this letter had been one of the more modern letters, enclosed in an envelope, and sent to Mr. Strang, it might be an easv matter for the enemy to say that the letter was forged, and slipped into an envelope that had recently been received from Xauvoo on other business with the Nnnvoo post-mark on it. But that is a thing which all are most effectu- ally barred against doing. For the letter of Joseph Smith containing Mr. Strang's appointment, is one of the old-fashioned style, common in those days, and still later, where the last page of the sheet was left blank for the purpose of receiving the address after being folded; the edges then be- ing inserted into each other were joined together by either a wafer or a little heated sealing wax. Such were the letters of those times, and such was and is the letterof appoint- ment. It is still in existence and may be examined by any one curious enough to investigate its claims; and it has the Nauvoo post-mark; as all the letters from Nauvoo, nt that time have, and is stamped with red ink, giving the lie very forcibly to all those who said it was black. And to those who have reported that the letters in the mailing stamp of this letter "were one size larger than those in the mailing; stamp at Nau- voo," Mr. Strang's answer is still, "measure it; it has been measured a thousand times already, and no one has detected a difference." And, again, to those who say that it is not in the hand-writing of Joseph Smith, I answer that it s not in the common hand-writing of any man, but is written in a very plain way ix ITALICS; and was, 1 presume, so writ- ten in order that there should be no doubt or uncertainty created by either word or letter therein. But Mr. Blair essays to attack the genuineness of this letter on other grounds. It was altogether too long iii coming, he .says: "I am somewhat acquainted with the way the mail was carried in those dnys, and I KNOW," says he, "Miat it would not take more than THKKK days for a let- ter to go from NMUVOO to Burling- ton; bntthiH letter was TWENTY DAYS reaching its destination. Does not this look suspicious?'' (Watson- Blair Debate, page 54.) "I'd rayther not KNOW quite so much," says Josh Billings, "than to know so much that ain't so." Now, Mr. Blair, doyou KNOW that there was aregularDAiiA T iuail between Nauvioo and Burlington, Wis., takingChicago in its route at that time? Ahorse that would go over one-third that route, which must be at least 350 miles, in one day, with a man and mail-brigon his back, would boa very valuable animal! I do positively KNOW, by actual experience, myself, of instances where it has taken fully three weeks for letters to come 40 miles, and where there was a daily stage more than half the way. Such things are not at all uncommon on many routes. But the seriding:rf that letter is now nearly nfty* since, and at a time, too, wMfl lines and daily mails were exceeding- ly limited. So I think afi'ii^Blaii- KNOWS a great deal that f> flifa't so." But Mr. Blair thinks t^f-vvas a very risky way to send so j important a document as the Letter of Appoint- ment through the mails. I can't help but think however, that it was quite as safe as any other way, especially when I remember that Willard Rich- ards published it far and nearatthat time, that there were sealed docu- ments left in his hands, that could not be opened until the return of the Twelve Apostles to Nauvoo, that would show who was appointed to succeed Joseph, but which were never opened to the public nor referred to after they did get home, (see Diamond, page 5.) We imagine, also, that God and His prophet knew a little better than Mr. Blair, how His appoint- ments ought to be conveyed. The most important documents of all nations have been carried in the mails, and are to-day. But again Mr. Blair criticizes. The language used in that letter, he says, is not Joseph Smith's language; and he gives us a sample of Joseph Smith's language when rebuking corrupt and wicked men, and deri- ding their political and hypocritical inconsistencies, as John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay. Mr. Blair would have us to believe that Joseph, the seer, had but one style or mood of expression, no mat- ter whether he were reproving and scoring political hypocrites or con- templating the most glorious and sublime things of the heavens. Just read paragraph 23, of Joseph's second letter on baptism for the dead, and then read his advice on "writing letters," his instruc- tion upon "Common Schools," ^'Friendly Hint to Missouri." "Views of the Government and Policy of the United States, " and then read the facts or matters of history he has given us in "History of Joseph Smith," and then tell men of common sense that there is no difference in the mood, tone, style and spirit of all these; and if you do I should think that they could as easily be- lieve that there was no difference be- tween an oak and a pine, a spruce and a cedar, a cherry tree and an apple tree, &c. And yet the revela- tions which God gave him, are so different from HIS OWN mode of ex- pression as to be altogether unlike. A child could very easily distinguish them one from the other by hearing alone. 26 The Letter of Appointment, so far as Joseph's own words to James are concerned, are very much like many things written by him, in tone and composition, but the revelation ap- pointing- James differs only in the subject, or object of it, from those in the Book of Doctrine & Covenants the style is the same. I confess that I do not like to fol- low up Mr. Blair in his quibblings. and his very learned (?) distinctions where there is no difference. But I do like to advocate the truth, and must, therefore, follow him a while longer In his remarks touching this letter. Joseph says in this letter: "In the midst of darkness and boding (sur- 1 rounding) danger, the spirit of Eli- jah came upon me, and I went away to inquireof the Lord howthechurch should be saved." And right here! will boldly say that if it wan not necessary then to inquire of the Lord howthechurch should be saved from the perils she was then in, and that! were threatening daily on every j hand, never, since the world began, has anything of that kind been nec- essary. Here is Joseph and Hyrum about to be taken from them; a howling mob stands readyand eager to destroy, to murder and rob and exile, and here worst of all stand a number of men ready to start up to deceive, mislead and blind the peo- ple with fals.e doctrine and delusion; a most horrible and dreadful time it was, indeed! "Great calamities" were then impending, and if the word of God was not then necessary to warn the people, and guide them safely through all this, it is vain to say that revelation for any such ob- ject was ever needed under any cir- cumstances, and yet the revelation contained in the Letter of Appoint- ment was the only one given through Joseph, the only lawful revelator to the church, as a guide and a warning from the threatening ruin. But in Joseph's going away to inquire of God "how the church should be saved," lie says "I was upon the Hill of the temple. The calm father of waters (the Mississippi) rolled be- low, CHANGELESS and eternal. I be- held a light in the heavens above, and streams of bright light illuminated the firmament, varied and beautiful as the rainbow, gentle, yet rapid as the fierce lightning. The Almighty came from His throne of rest. He clothed Himself with light as with a garment. He appeared, and moon and stars went out." (seeDiamond, pages 3 and 4.) Here Mi 1 . Blair arises as one who has made a wonderful discovery, and says: "It is absurd to claim that in- spiration would say that the Missis- sippi was changeless. Why, there are times when it wildly overflows its banks. In a single night its con- ditions are entirely changed." Surprising discovery, Mr. Blair! But what little school-boy does not know all that? Mr. Blair is evidently one of that class of men who have undertaken to convict the prophets of God, but succeed only in exposing their own ignorance and folly, and are put to shame. The reader will bear in mind that this language is merely the descrip- tive language employed by the prophet Joseph in giving an account of a glorious vision which heclaims to have had in behalf of the church. The revelation given by the God of heaven on this occasion, is another and different thing. Joseph MKJIIT, possibly use erroneous phraseology in his descriptive account of this or any other vision or communication. But neither Joseph nor any other L'7 prophet, ever fails to make hiniKelf clearly understood to those \\lio pleased with them when they do wrong. And to be thus pleased, or properly examine their testimonies, displeased with righteousness or un- He might say, "He (God) appeared, righteousness, is one of His nnchang- andmoon and stars WENTOIT." And quibbling and unreasonable men like Mr. lUair, might ask. "where did they go to?" \Ve might answer by asking where they go to when the sun rises? They disappear from hu- man eyesight, that is where they ''go to." The sun's light being so much more powerful and glorious, blots ing characteristics. So with the Mississippi; it is one of its great characteristics, to rise and fall in the volume of its waters, but taken dec- ade by decade, and century by centu- ry, and one thousand years by an- other, it changes not in these charac- teristics. In its changeability it is unchangeable. There are a good out, or swallowsup, the weaker light I many other things that are full of of moon and stars. Just so in this I changes but still never change. The glorious vision. But, Mr. Blair asks wicked aresaid to be without changes again: "who kept house" when the Almighty came from His throne of rest? What a question for a man yet their whole lives are full of changes. (Ps. 55: 19.) In their GEN- ERAL CHARACTER they change not, claiming to be a minister of God, to ! though they may change from good ask! A more profane or ignorant question could not be asked by the roughest boy that runs the streets. It we were as profanely curious we nature or good humor, to anger and wrath several times a day. Just so with various animals, wild and do- mestic. The earth, the moon and might ask, who kept house on the ! niany planets, are constantly chang- numerous occasions when He came down and talked with Moses, with Elijah, with Isaiah and with many other prophets in the past? At first sight it would seem redicu- lous to say that the Mississippi was "changeless." God, Himself, is said to be unchangeable, and so He is; yet there are long periods in His life when He is well pleased with His people, arid again there are long peri- ods when His anger against them burned and smoked against them "to the lowest hell." His whole character towards men in the past, has been a succession of changes from pleasure to anger, wrath, jeal- ousy and hot displeasure, and yet it is said He never changes. Full of changes towards men, and yet never changes! How is this? The answer is that He is ever pleased in any and in all ages of the past, with men when they do right, and is ever dis- ing. yet never change from their gen- eral character. Thus far upon the unchangeable father of waters. But, "the earth dissolved in space," says Joseph. And says Mr. Blair: <'Now, is it true that on the 18th of June, 1844, the earth dissolved in space?" Thus Mr. Blair seems to take pleas, ure in exposing hisown ignorance, in the attempt tu convict and expose the prophet. Mr. Blair ought to know by this time, that the earth and all its elements are EXCEEDINGLY SENSATIVE at, 01* IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, or the angels of His presence. The prophets -of God, ancient find modern, have given us numerous in- stances of this; and I believe the prophets <>t God understood these things any amount better than the philosophers of the present day, the best of them. ; Joseph Smith, by revelation from God, says: "Verily, I say unto you, that ALL THINGS unto me (God) are spiritual," &c. That is, all things in the presence of God partake of the nature of Spirit, intelligence, motive and will. (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 28: 9.) And again we read that God hath "given a law unto ALL THINGS, by which they move in their times and in their seasons." (Sec. 85: 11.) If all things have a law given unto them, that implies that all things have a power to obey law; and if they have power to obey law, they must have sufficient lightand knowl- edge, motive and will, to enable them to work correctly by that law; and this is the view that all the prophets and all the heavenly host have given us of them, from the beginning, ^t^ I quote now from the 77th Psalm. 16-18. "The waters SAW Thee, O,God, the waters saw Thee; they were AFRAID; the depths also were TROUBLED." And now, from Habbakuk. Chap. 3: 910. "Thy bow was made quite naked according to the oaths of the tribes. Thou didst clean the earth with rivers. The MOUNTAINS SAW THEE and they TREMBLED; the deep UTTERED HIS VOICE, and lifted up his hands on high,"&c. This is what the prophet Habbakuk saw would take place in the latter days, when God comes down to deliver His peo- ple. Speaking of the same or similar things, Isaiah says: "When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou earnest down, the mountains flowed down AT THY PRESENCE." (Is. 64: 3.) "O, God, when Thou wentest forth before thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness, the earth shook, the HEAVENS DROPPED at the presence of God; even Sinai itself, was MOVED at the presence of God,theGod of Israel." (Ps. 68: 7-8.) "When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, * * * the SEA SAW it and FLED; Jordan was drivcni back. The mountains SKIPPED LIKE RAMS, and the little hills LIKE LAMHS. What ailed thee, O, thou sea, that thou fleddest? ^e mountains that ye skipped like,,rams, and ye little hills like lambs? Tremble thou earth, AT TH$ PRESENCE of the Lord; at the presence of theGod of Jacob." (Ps, 114.) "And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, BECAUSE THE LORD DE- SCENDED UPON IT IN FIRE; and the smoke the-reof ascended as thesmoke of a furuiice, and the whole mount quaked greatly." If I wished to quibble and trifle with holy things, I might ask if "the heavens Cropped" where did they DROP to? If Sinai was moved at the presence of God, where did it MOVE to? If the hills and mountains skip- ped like lambs and rams, where did they SKIP to? And when the heavens opened, as Stephen and others have told us, why did they not stay open? &c. * With all these things written before us for our learning, and much more of like character, Mr. Blair is seem- ingly astonished at the saying, "the earth" immediately in the vicinity of where the prophet Joseph stood and talked with God, "dissolved in space," &c., and feels only to ridicule such sayings as "extravagant," un- reasonable and untrue. O, my, I could introduce here a good deal more of this "extravagant" lan- guage, and I can't help but think that if the following language from the pen of Joseph Smith, were only found in Mr. Strang's appointment, Mr. Blair would ridicule it as "ex- travagant," with a vengeance. "Let the car tli break forth into HINGING, * * * let the iiKMintnitiH HIIOUT FOR JOY: and a'l ye valleys GUY ALOUD; and all ye seas and dr.y lands TELL the wonders of your eter- nal King. And ye rivers and brooks, and rills flow down with GLADNESS. Let the WOODS and all the TREES of the Held PRAISE the Lord; and ye solid rocks WEEP FOR JOY, And let the aim, moon and morning stars SING TOGETHER, and let all the sons of God shout for jov. And let the eternal creations declare His name for ever and ever." (2nd Letter on Baptism for the Dead.) According to Mr. Blair, Joseph Smith never wrote this most beauti- ful paragraph, BECAUSE IT is ALTO- GETHER UNLIKE HIS REBUKE OF HENRY CLAY AND JOHN C. CALHOUN ! And right here I feel to say, as Joseph said when reproving other political hypocrites: "O, Granny, what a long tail our puss has got !!" What a wonderful discernment Mr. Blair- has of the prophet's moods, "style and composition!!!" Modern notions touching theearth. the planets and llirir elements, would lead us to conclude that the above language is very lofty, sublime, and grandly poetic, to he sure, but very hard to believe possible; but Joseph and all other prophets, knew very well what they were doing in using such language as this. Nothing at all impossible about it; nor is it in the least unreasonable or "extrava- gant." "I tell you," said Jesus, when the Pharisees would rebuke the multi- tude because they shouted his praise, "if these should hold their peace, the STONES would immediately CRY OCT." "Then he arose and REBUKED the winds and the sea. and there was a great calm." And they then said, "What manner of man is this, that 2!) even the WINDS and the SEA OBEY him?" (Luke 8: 24, 25. 19, 39,40.) lean hardly dismissthis particular point without Introducing a little of the "extravagance" of both E/.ekiel and the God who sent him. "Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken," &c. * * * "Ye, O, MOUN- TAINS of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come," that is, from all the na- tions of the earth, "For behold, I am for you, and I will turn untoyou, andyeshall be tilled and sown. And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded,and I will multiply upon you man ami beast, and I will settle you after your old estates; and I will do better unto you than at your beginning, and YE SHALL KNOW that I am the Lord. Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt henceforth bereave them of men nomore." (Ezek. 36th Chap,) "Extravagant" language? What kind of language is the above, ad- dressed to hills, mountains, rivers, valleys, desolate cities and waste places? Things like this are crowd- ing upon me, but I have not space for but little more. Moses said "the Bush burned but the bush was not consumed." (Exod. 3: 2.) What! Anything burn and not beconsumed? What if a remark like this had been made in the letter of appointment? Isaiah says that while he was in the temple of God, that the God of Israel appeared there, and that the posts of the door MOVED at His pres- ence. O, that would be impossible without bursting the stone-work of the temple. Who can believe an "ex- travagant" thing like this? O, but that is not it all, either; for on this occasion the prophet was sad that he was a man of unclean lips, and he says one of the seraphim flew and took a LIVE COAL from the altar and laid it upon his lips and told him that that had removed his unclean- ness of lips. O, surely, if a thing of that kind were done it would have burned his mouth; and besides, how would a live coal remove a man's in- iquity or uncleanness of lips? Great "extravagance" here again, you see! (Exod.3: 2; Is. 6: 1-7.) To use Mr. Blair's beautifel phrase- ology, touching the Letter of Ap- pointment, "All these false a ml ex- travagant sayings, should brand that vagabond" Book, the Bible, and that other vagabond book, the Doc- trine & Covenants, as frauds and forgeries. (See Mr. Blair's remarks on page 21 of Watson-IUair debate on the letter of appointment.) 1 notice that Mr. Blair can argue very well when pretty thoroughly whipped. He seems to act on the principle that what he lacks in logic, has to be madeup in chaff and cheek. It is nothing for^him to refute the prophets of God, and the Almighty, Himself. Indeed, it often happens that he refutes Mr. Blair! For additional copies or further Information address H. C, ANDERSON ..7th P I I