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Vol. 3 Morehead, Ky., Apr. - May, 1905 Nos. 7, 8
THE MORMON PROBLEM.
[Z.] H. GURLEY.
NO. I.
There are four bodies of people, out of possibly twenty odd formerly, claiming more or less the divine call of Joseph Smith: The "Brighamites" of Utah; the "Josephites" of Lamoni, Ia.; the "Whitmerites" of Richmond, Mo.; the "Hedrickites" of Independence, Mo.
The Brighamites carried off church archives, "High Council" proceedings about all the "apostles." most of the "high priests," when they emigrated from Nauvoo, Ill., to Utah.
The Whitmerites claimed to have the "original MSs. of the Book of Mormon."
The Hedrickites were awarded the "Temple Lot" by decree of court. Said "Lot" in Independence, Mo. It was supposed to be the "center spot of Zion." Zion construed as the whole U. S., which the saints are to possess "by and by."
The Josephites" with open arms received "Little Joseph," the oldest son of the "prophet" and founder of Mormonism. "Little Joseph" at once becomes their "Prophet, Seer, Revelator," and I think "Translator." If the latter is inappropriate, or not claimed, then the reader will please omit; but counting the other three, add, "President over the high priesthood of the church," "apostle" and an "elder." He has at least six cognomens. His father had "seven" -- heads in English; besides others, of some imported language. See "Doctrine and Covenants," Peter had two -- "apostle" and "an elder;" but Joseph had several at least.' Each one had a "horn" or two, of "power."
Thus we may see by the above how at least their "inheritances were divided by lot." In November, 1851, Jason W. Briggs, of Beloit, Wis., made the prime move for the organization of the Josephites -- in a revelation. He had accepted the "Law'' given by the prophet Joseph as the premise, and being strongly logical, he built accordingly. Ere death claimed him, he renounced it all, alleging that "inspiration usually follows the antecedent thought," and his own revelation was now so construed. But the premise he rejected as anti-Christian;
Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. (deceased), my father, accepted the revelation some months later, just after a fifteen-year old girl had declared that "Joseph Smith, the son of Joseph Smith, is the successor of the prophet Joseph Smith. It is his right by lineage, saith the Lord." A perusal of "Doctrines and Covenants" will confirm this idea. Joseph had made provision for his son, i. e., in the "Law" -- while yet some fifty, perhaps, had claimed! special ordination. to "Moses' Seat" by the prophet, and David Whitmer was one. This Josephite Church was our heritage.
I was born in the same State -- Wisconsin; the same year -- 1852, as was the Josephite Church, they holding their first conference in June, 1852. I thank God that my children are free from its doctrinal influences. We read ourselves out of the body in 1886. I had been a member eleven years. Ordained a priest in 1878, and an elder in 1881. THE HELPER is certainly absolutely correct in insisting that there is but "one issue" viz.: "Was Joseph Smith a prophet of God?" I do not read any where of a "fallen prophet" of God continuing to guide a people. Moses sinned, but God took him. Jonah was perhaps the nearest approach to the thought; but as a friend and brother, B. F. Bonnell, a critical reader, remarked, "He got 'whaled,' and so came out all right." If Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, then his "words" and "works" were of God, and the strong statement of D. and C. (Doctrine and Covenants), Sec. 19, Par. 2, is proper. But if he was not a prophet of God, than the whole superstructure of the ism must perforce be of the devil. He and all his followers claim supernatural power. They disclaim to be of human origin; Their object was to overturn all things human. The very nature of the claim for Joseph Smith removes him from. the line of the "Reformers." He was either a "Restorer" or a "Revolutionist." No normal human would claim to be a "prophet of God," an "apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ," the divinely inspired founder of the "only true church," "ordained by an angel of God," etc. It must be apparent to all thinkers that no middle ground can possibly or consistently be taken.
We are commanded to judge a "tree by its fruit;" a "fountain" by its waters. Let any one candidly judge the record of Joseph's followers from 1829 to 1905, and answer; With-all classes did the "tree" produce good or bad fruit? The late J. W. Briggs; whose knowledge of all was greater than mine, wrote me years ago that there were mare tares than wheat. There were the Brighamites, Strangites, Rigdonites, Lyman Wightites, Brooksites, Thompsonites, Brewsterites, Wm. B. Smithites -- the latter claiming only for a time to be a "protector of the heir apparent," Cromwell-like -- and other ites -- and mites. Many of them inculcating polygamy, in some form or other; all of them claiming the power of Moses, promise to lead; all making a call for the faith in "Zion" land -- "temple" building, "high priests," etc., etc. Carrying a piece of the exploded shell of Nauvoo with them. All shouting their praise of the dead prophet, no doubt. Brigham was the smartest for the hour. He secured the greater following. I believe he was nearer in accord with the prophet, both in moral and mental acumen, as the cause of his success he mimicked his voice, I'm told. The people shouted, "Bro. Joseph's mantle has fallen upon him." The evil in the record of Mormons is directly traced to the prophet as the evil genius, instituting the evil practice. In this letter I will content myself with the statement. The evidence may be had if desired The elder of the Whitmerite Church from Lamoni, Ia, on "A 'Translator, not a Prophet," did quite well considering his environments, especially in his assertion "that an acceptance of the Book of Mormon is by no means indispensable to spiritual regeneration and acceptance with Christ " Ye editor did well to "Amen" the truth. That was an advance step. The need of the hour is to feel after all such, that maybe God's grace will reach them to step out for the whole truth of the fullness" of the mission of Christ, who came to earth in the "fullness" of time, some nineteen hundred years ago. The great mass of the members of these best factions, are, and were, as we were, unlearned, untutored in the Bible, Bible history, and for the most part in the history of the prophet Joseph Smith and his churches. Here lies the secret of church success, with the appeal to the element of credulity: "First, apostles; secondary, prophets." The claim of modern "apostles of Jesus Christ" is ample for the rejection of Joseph's claims. How much greater, then, to add to that the claim of "high priests" -- when the "Church of Christ never had but one -- even Jesus the Christ, who made the sacrifice "once for all." Then add the item of that "angel," (John the Baptist)" ordaining Joseph and Oliver to the Aaronic priesthood, claiming powers for this priesthood never held with it in the days of Moses and Aaron. The unchristianlike claim of a "Moses and Aaron." The claim of two priesthoods in the church so much at war with Heb. vii. 11, 12, for as with the priesthood so with the "law," a "change" had been wrought, a complete exchange of both the "priesthoods" and "law." The doubling-up process of the two priesthoods would necessitate the doubling up to laws. As with the one, so with the other. Then the Seventh-day Sabbath folks are right. Ah! yes. And the woman with two husbands would be right also. See Rom. vii. 1-4. :But not so. The whole Testament is the antithesis of Joseph Smith.
TESTIMONIAL
Of Daniel B. Turney, D. D., the Polemic of the Methodist Protestant Church.
R. B. Neal, of Grayson, Ky., has been rendering a valuable service to truth and righteousness, by his useful series of anti-Mormon tracts. His exposures of the imposture are authentic and trenchant. In fighting the delusion, he furnishes a full quiver of arrows barbed with the evidence to produce clear conviction as to the true inwardness of the basest fraud that ever hocus-pocussed any portion of humanity. The most effective method for meeting Mormon misrepresentations has certainly been taken by Bro. Neal, and a community properly vaccinated with his little anti-Mormon wasps will be positively immune from the delusion of Mormonism. DANIEL B. TURNEY.
Effingham, Ill.
"THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS."
CLARK BRADEN.
Unless the facts in regard to "The Book of Commandments" are put in better shape, Mormons will baffle and nullify all use of it, by the demand: "Prove the authorities of the church published the book, or accepted or sanctioned it."
Smith, or rather Rigdon, through Smith, began to give "revelations" in August, 1828. In the last Lamoni edition of "The Book of Doctrine and Covenants," Sec. LXX., p. 175, by revelation, Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer and W. W. Phelps are made "stewards" over the revelations and their publication. They are ordered to have them taken to Zion, Independence, Mo., and published. (Sec. LXXXIII., p. 211.) Money is provided for their publication. (Sec. LXVII., p. 170.) The Lord challenges Smith's critics to produce a revelation equal to the least of Smith's revelations in "The Book of Commandments."
Sec. I., p 7, was "preface" to the "Book of Commandments," and is called "My Preface to the Book of Commandments."
All of these revelations were given years before the publication of the present "Book of Doctrines and Covenants," and refer to another, an earlier book, "The Book of Commandments." In the Kirtland edition, the first edition of "The Book of Doctrines and Covenants," published in 1835, on page 38 "The Book of Commandments" is quoted as revelation. Two quotations, with chapter, paragraph and line; exactly as they are in the "Book of Commandments" and in no other book.
There was a book, "The Book of Commandments," printed by authority of revelation and of a committee appointed by revelation. The revelations were printed in the columns of the Evening and Morning Star; the official organ of the church, published in Independence, Mo. The type used in the columns of the paper was arranged in book form, and in forms of sixteen pages each, 160 pages, were printed for an edition of 3,000 copies, ordered by the authorities of the church. When the tenth form had been printed, and before the rest of the revelations had been printed, a mob wrecked the office, and threw the sheets into the street. It was dangerous for Mormons to be on the street. They hired boys to bring to them all the sheets they could collect. When they had arranged them, they had the pages: for twelve or thirteen copies of the 160 pages printed. These were bound at different places, and there are now in existence eight or ten copies. "The Book of Commandments" was not all printed, and never was published, except as stated above. But the printing that was done, was in obedience to the action of the authorities of the church, and by authority of revelation; and was done by authority of a committee appointed by revelation, in the official organ of the church, in the Evening and Morning Star (2490) quoted by. R. M. Elvin in the Saints' Herald, the official organ of the Josephites, Aug. 30, 1884. The First Presidency, Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and F. G. Williams, the highest authority in the church, the prophet himself, declare that the revelations as printed in the Star were correct, just as the Lord gave them, except four unimportant words. This settles all dispute in regard to the accuracy of "The Book of Commandments" and the sanction of the churches.
It was quoted in the first edition of the "Book of Doctrine and Covenants" as a book, giving chapter, paragraph and line, and as a revelation.
As all copies of "The Book of Commandments" were in the hands of Mormons, they felt safe in so changing the "revelations" in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants" that the Mormon god would not know his own progeny. After doing this with tedious iteration and reiteration, the different quorums of the Mormon hierarchy, in convention in 1835, declared that the revelations are as the Lord gave them.
But by apostasy, copies of the "Book of 'Commandments" are in the hands of Gentiles, and the lies and frauds detected.
(The above is quite a valuable contribution to our war fund. The reprint copy of "The Book of Commandments" is printed from one of the very few original copies saved from the mob. Our reprint is advertised and sold by the Evening and Morning Star, Independence, Mo., the same Mormon sheet in which the text of the revelations was first printed. This branch of the Mormon Church is known as Hedrickites.
This impresses the value of the reprint copy we handle. Send in your dollar for a copy of this reprint of a rare old book. Better send now, for the copies are going and there were only 500 copies printed. These mostly for polemics,
In our next we will give some other facts, from Mormon pens, in addition to the above. -- EDITOR.)
"PRONOUNCE IT GOOD"
Bro. Neal; -- I have just read Bro. Darby in your last issue, and pronounce it good. One of the best criticisms seen. He writes in a good form. The candid manner courts candid facts from the opposition, if they have any.
I used to think that "Baldwin's Ancient America" gave quite similar coincidents. But when I learned in the "early '80's" of the absence of the language of any Oriental nation, the absolute inability of any modern scholars to read the "caractors," it gave me a very severe chill and I've grown more chills since.
While not able to account for the "Book of Mormon" -- I do not need to do that -- I regard the whole thing a fraud played upon gullible humanity. The chief object to-day with interested ones is to use humanity to make honorable an otherwise dishonorable name -- the name of Joseph Smith.
I have lately learned that the Josephites have the manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon, the copy held by David Whitmer. I hear direct, evidently good authority, that they paid a large sum to get it.
I consider one of the strong points against the Book of Mormon, is the absence of "Oriental language" in its composition.
There is also the peculiar fact that the whole Mormon fraternity, barring the Whitmer class, did not order their church lines in harmony with that book.
"Joseph" became "Pope," and his words were its laws. Yes, and are yet, in the main.
They can not answer, never did answer, the logical output in the comparison of "Doctrine and Covenants" with New Testament Scriptures. Joseph Smith's revealments, as a whole, were antichrist. Yours for truth,
[Z.] H. GURLEY
LOS ANGELES, Cal.
(The fact that Bro. Gurley is of royal Mormon stock, and his family preeminent in Mormon affairs, gives additional charm and weight to his pen-work. We say of his letter what he said of Bro. Darby's article: "It is good." -- ED.
Read what Bro. Clark Braden and the Christian Companion, of Louisville say about "The Book of Commandments," and send for a copy. Send us the names of eight subscribers and two dollars, and we will send you a copy gratis.
David [sic, Daniel?] B. Turney, Effingham, Ill., writes: "I have mentioned you and THE HELPER favorably in our church papers. I couldn't do otherwise."
Thanks. We wish that other scribes would push the interest of THE HELPER in both church and county papers. Why keep us struggling for a foothold when favorable mention in papers would soon place the paper on a solid rock foundation, financially? Send us in long lists to whom to send specimen copies.
D. B. Turney, Effingham, Ill., sends for a copy of "Book of Commandments." He is a "prince among polemics," and is anxious to enter the lists against a Josephite elder. Drop him a card if there is an elder with warpaint on in your vicinity. He will care for him with pleasure.
OLIVER COWDERY'S
RENUNCIATION OF MORMONISM.
Bear in mind that Cowdery was the first person baptized into the Mormon Church. Joseph Smith, Jr., was the second person. Joseph baptized Oliver, and then Oliver baptized Joseph. John the Baptist, "he whom Herod beheaded," came down from heaven, gave them the right to baptize; i. e., "the keys of the Aaronic priesthood."
More, no man now on earth has the right to baptize, from a Mormon viewpoint, who has not had the hands of a man laid on his head, who had the hand of a man laid on his head, and the lines traced back unbroken to Joseph Smith or Oliver Cowdery. Cowdery was made an elder with Joseph. He wrote most of the Book of Mormon as Smith dictated.
Cowdery is one of the "Three Witnesses" to the divinity of the Book of Mormon. He claimed to have seen John the Baptist, Peter, James and John. The evangelist came down and laid hands on him, giving him the power of the Melchisedec priesthood; viz.: the power to impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands. He also said he saw angels who testified to him the truth of Mormonism.
These facts will season the following
RENUNCIATION.
State of Ohio, s.s.
County of Seneca.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public within and for said county, G. J. Keen, a resident of said county, to me well known, and being sworn according to law, makes oath and says:
"I was well acquainted with Oliver Cowdery who formerly resided in this city, that sometimes in the year 1840 Henry Cronise, Samuel Waggoner and myself, with other Democrats of this county, determined to establish a Democratic newspaper in this city to aid in the election of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency, and we authorized Henry Cronise, Esq., to go East and purchase a suitable press for that purpose. Mr. Cronise went East, purchased a press and engaged Oliver Cowdery to edit the paper. Mr. Cowdery arrived in Tiffin (O.) some time before the press arrived. Some time after Mr. Cowdery's arrival in Tiffin, we became acquainted with his (Cowdery's) connection with Mormonism.
"We immediately called a meeting of our Democratic friends, and having the Book of Mormon with us, it was unanimously agreed that Mr. Cowdery could not he permitted to edit said paper.
"Mr. Cowdery opened a law office in Tiffin, and soon effected a partnership with Joel W. Wilson.
"In a few years Mr. Cowdery expressed a desire to associate himself with a Methodist Protestant church of this city.
"Rev. John Souder and myself were appointed a committee to wait on Mr. Cowdery and confer with him respecting his connection with Mormonism and the Book of Mormon.
"We accordingly waited on Mr. Cowdery at his residence in Tiffin, and there learned his connection, from him, with that order, and his full and final renunciation thereof.
"We then inquired of him if he had any objection to making a public recantation.
"He replied that he had objections; that, in the first place, it could do no good; that he had known several to do so and they always regretted it. And, in the second place, it would have a tendency to draw public attention, invite criticism, and bring him into contempt.
"'But,' said he, 'nevertheless, if the church require it, I will submit to it, but I authorize and desire you and the church to publish and make known my recantation.'
"We did not demand it, but submitted his name to the church, and he was unanimously admitted a member thereof.
"At that time he arose and addressed the audience present, admitted his error and implored forgiveness, and said he was sorry and ashamed of his connection with Mormonism.
"He continued his membership while he resided in Tiffin, and became superintendent of the Sabbath-School, and led an exemplary the while he resided with us.
"I have lived in this city upwards of fifty-three years, was auditor of this county, was elected to that office in 1840.
"I am now in my eighty-third year, and well remember the facts above related.
(Signed) G. J. KEEN.
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence, this 14th day of April, A. D. 1885.
FRANK L. EMICH,
Notary Public in Seneca, O.
G. J. Keen, Esq., is one of our oldest citizens, is a respectable man, and is very highly esteemed.
(Signed) O. T. LOCK.
Postmaster.
We have confirmatory evidence to hand out. This act of Cowdery in joining the M. P. Church, recounting his connection with Mormonism with shame and sorrow, simply brands all he said about seeing John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, angels, Sword of Laban, gold plates of the Book of Mormon, etc., as false.
The church then and there should have demanded of him a full and true account of his connection with the fraud, and the part he played, even if he did have the "fear of the Danites before his eyes." He well knew that that order was no myth. We have an account of Brigham Young visiting him in his law office at Tiffin.
Copy this article in every religious weekly, in every daily and county paper. It will do much to destroy Mormonism. The facts to which Keen makes oath are such as not to admit of mistake on his part. Note how the elders will try to evade their weight.
The chief assistant founder of Mormonism renounced all his stories of the Book of Mormon and the foundation of that church, and joined the Methodist Church and lived and worked with that church for years.
Sound it out along the line.
Note 1: In the comments he appended to "Oliver Cowdery's Recantation," Rev. Neal says "We have confirmatory evidence to hand out." His readers would have to wait until the next issue of The Helper to appear, in June of 1905, to see exactly what the "confirmatory evidence" was that Neal here so cryptically refers to. However, the modern reader, skipping ahead to the June-July issue can there read the purported words of Oliver Cowdery, as reportedly first published in an 1839 pamphlet, entitled Defence in a Rehearsal of My Grounds for Separating Myself From the Latter Day Saints. Speaking on this same topic, Neal says in the July 8, 1905 issue of the Christian Standard: "I have been able to locate but one copy of this rare pamphlet in all the earth." This "one copy" he procured from a correspondent during the late spring of 1905. See also Neal's letter of June 3, 1905, as published in Wingfield Watson's Prophetic Controversy No. 6: Facts for the Anti-Mormons. There Neal is quoted as saying, "I have before me 'Oliver Cowdery's Defence;' just got it yesterday...."
Note 2: Prior to his actually procuring the "one copy" of this dubious 1839 production, Rev. R. B. Neal evidently had already obtained hand written extracts from his correspondent in Effingham Co., Illinois (also cited as living in Goreville, Johnson, Co., Illinois), "Bro. D. B. Turney." This first extracts from this new, "confirmatory evidence," -- obtained from Daniel B. Turney -- appear in the June-July issue of The Helper, on pages 5, 6, and 7, and Turner himself provides the readers a short note on page 8 of that issue. In his 7th "Sword of Laban Leaflet" article, Neal says he is handing out "another sample" from the Cowdery Defence. Probably the first "sample" was the excerpt he published in The Helper issue for June-July and in his 11th Leaflet. Rev. Neal also published the entire alleged Cowdery text, as his early 1906 pamphlet, Anti-Mormon Tracts, No. 9.
Note 3: Dr. Daniel Braxton Turney (1848-1926) was a well educated Illinois politician and a clergyman-turned-polemicist in the Methodist Protestant Church. He was ordained in 1873 and in later years sometimes served as President of annual conferences of that church. Turney was a U. S. Presidential candidate for the "United Christians" in the campaigns of 1908 and 1912. He authored numerous articles and tracts; his pamphlets include: "The Mythifying Theory," Metropolis, IL, 1872. 8 p.; "A Peep into Psychomancy," Mansfield, OH, 1878. 13 p.; "Garfield or Hancock?" 1880, 25 p.; "Baptismal Chain," c. 1885; Was Abraham Lincoln a Myth? c. 1885, 18 p.; and Mode of Baptism According to the Scriptures, 1887, 1894. The first mention of Dr. Turney in the pages of Rev. Neal's The Helper came in this Apr.-May, 1905 issue, where Neal is still so newly acquainted with his lately acquired correspondent that he calls him "David." It seems likely that the acquaintance of Turney and Neal strengthened significantly during the late spring of 1905 -- to the point that D. B. Turney was soon sending Rev. Neal extracts from his "one copy" of the so-called "Cowdery Defence." See also notes accompanying the June-July issue, below.
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