This leads us to the third claim, i.e., that "young Joseph" was
ordained by proper authority.
Those who ordained him to the priesthood and set him apart to be
president of the Reorganized Church were William Marks, Zenas H.
Gurley, W. W. Blair, and Samuel Powers. {497} The two latter never did
belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. William
Marks, at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet, followed Sidney
Rigdon, evidently forgetting the claim which he later advocated, that
"young Joseph" should succeed his father. Later he left the church and
joined James J. Strang's Organization, acknowledging Strang as the
prophet of the Lord and the one who should succeed Joseph. (Reorganized
History, vol. 3, p. 723.) He so far departed from the true path as to
be ordained and anointed to one position after another under Strang's
hands, thus vitiating any priesthood he formerly received had he not
been excommunicated. (See Corner Stones.) BECOMING DISSATISFIED he left
Strang and joined Charles B. Thompson's Church. (Reorganized History,
vol. 3, p. 724,) STILL LATER he left Thompson and joined John E. Page's
Church. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 724.) On June 11th, 1859, he
entered the New Organization, subsequently the "Reorganization," on his
original baptism. NOW WHERE WAS HIS AUTHORITY TO ORDAIN YOUNG JOSEPH?
On the verge of the great exodus from Nauvoo, Zenas H. Gurley fell away
from the church. He was a Seventy at the time, but not a member of any
general presiding quorum. One cannot but be struck with the coincident
fact that just at this time the saints faced their greatest ordeal.
Everything looked black. Only stout hearts survive. The question
persists in recurring to the mind, did Zenas H. Gurley forsake the
church in its need because of disbelief in it, or because he paled
before the hardships and suffering ahead? At any rate, he left the
church and joined J. J. Strang's Organization, in which he remained for
a number of years. He became a leading factor in bringing about "The
New Organization," and in 1860 assisted in ordaining young Joseph to
the priesthood, and also in setting him apart. How about his authority?
If the whole church went wrong and he was one of these few pillars,
sent of God, to steady the ark, why did he grope about in uncertainty
and join a man-made church? In an earlier case we know of, the Lord was
very particular that his chosen vessel should "join none of them."
Reader, have you ever stopped to consider this fact, that a man who
holds the priesthood of God cannot debase that priesthood by joining a
church which is not of God and still retain that priesthood?
The only answer there is to this query makes plain the fact that these
men had no authority to ordain any one to any {498} office in the
priesthood, and as proof that "young Joseph" was not ordained by his
father we quote his own words:
"No, sir, I did NOT state that I was ordained by my father; I did
not make the statement. I was NOT ordained by my father as his
successor,--according to my understanding of the word 'ordained'
I was not." (Plaintiff's Abstract, in temple lot suit, page 79,
paragraph 162.)
The Lord never left his church in uncertainty, but the power bestowed
upon Joseph Smith was bestowed upon the quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
which quorum constituted the second quorum in the church. THEY were
sustained in their calling as the first Presidency of the Church after
the martyrdom by the vote and common consent of the people, August 8th,
1844, and again in October, 1844, and it was their duty to set in order
the first presidency and all other officers of the church in accordance
with the revelations of the Lord.
But let us turn to another side of the question: The Reorganization
claims that there was an apostasy and a rejection of the church soon
after the Prophet's death. If such was the case, then is there some
reason for a Reorganization; if not, there is no excuse for it and a
church carrying that name brands itself false.
In contrast with their fundamental view of the Reorganization; that is,
the apostasy or rejection of the church at Joseph Smith's death, let us
consider the sayings of some of the ancient prophets, and by the aid of
their stronger vision learn the lesson before us.
Gloomy indeed must have been the immediate outlook to many of these
ancient message-bearers of Jehovah. Rejected again and again they
found little prospect of accomplishing more than but a meagre part of
the mission of the priesthood. Full well they knew that if ever the
world were cleansed from sin it would be through the efforts of God's
servants, joined with the efforts of the people. They could look back
to the days of Enoch and rejoice in the success of his ministry, for in
Zion was the full mission of the priesthood achieved, but as for their
labors, most of the seed fell upon stony ground. What was it, then,
that gave to these unrewarded men, these outcasts, the tone of optimism
we find in their writings? The answer becomes plain by a reading of
them. Into their inspired vision was sent a glimpse of the future, and
in the picture thus before them they saw a time, albeit afar off, when
the Kingdom of Heaven, restored to the earth for the last {499} time,
would gradually establish peace and righteousness among men. And so we
read such passages as these:
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and shall
consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever." (Dan. 2:44.)
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and
to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. * * * And then
followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:6-8.)
"But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain
of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall
flow into it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God
of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his
paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people and rebuke
strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not
lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more." (Micah 4:1-3.)
In all these passages it is clearly evident that PERMANENCY was to be
one characteristic of the latter-day kingdom, and that RESULTS were to
follow it from the beginning without a break.
Finally the set time arrives, and the Father and the Son visit the
earth. Men of old-time in an angelistic state come and deliver their
messages. Peter, James, and John restore the priesthood. Elijah brings
back the "key of the binding power," and under direct guidance from on
High the KINGDOM becomes established once more.
What, we may now ask, is this latter-day kingdom like? Where are the
evidences of its permanency? If that feature be so distinguishing a
one that the ancient seers eagerly noted it and gave it so prominent
a place in their descriptions, surely there will be some evidences of
it, in the kingdom's make-up; in other words, in the light of these
passages, we would expect that the Lord, in establishing His work
for the last time, would place within it the power to overcome all
obstacles and perpetuate itself. Let us examine the "Revelations."
In March, 1835, the Lord revelated to the Prophet the {500} authority
of the different offices in the priesthood. Throughout, all men are
counted equally worthy; NO SPECIAL son is named and no royal family
indicated. We read, as quoted above:
"Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding High Priests,
chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and
upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a
quorum of the Presidency of the Church." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:22;
Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)
Again:
"The Twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve
Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the
world; thus differing from other officers in the church in the
duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority
and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doc. &
Cov., sec. 107:23-24; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)
Further:
"The seventy are called to preach the gospel and be especial
witnesses unto the Gentiles in all the world, etc. And they form a
quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses
or apostles just named." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:25-26; Reorganized
edition, sec. 104:11.)
Ah! the important provision has been made. Not in one man's hands alone
does full authority reside. Three great quorums possess it; the First
Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the First Quorum of Seventy. In
the latter two it is but latent during the life of the Presidency,
for there is order in God's house, but being latent makes it none the
less real. The result is obvious. Evil may abound in man's heart. The
emissaries of Satan may incite them to bloodshed and drivings. They may
martyr the Prophet, but we have the Twelve left. They may destroy the
Twelve, but the Seventies remain. Surely, a blind man can perceive a
strength from within which sets destruction at defiance. But this is
not all. Not only is the power and authority in safe keeping, but the
Lord has designated a special quorum to build up the Church whenever
any of its offices become vacant, through death or otherwise. The
revelation of March, 1835, says:
"It is the duty of the Twelve, also, to ordain and set in order ALL
THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, etc." (Doc.& Cov., sec. 107:58;
Reorganized edition, sec. 104:30-31.)
Twice blind is he who cannot see that so long as such a quorum is in
existence the Church will continue to live.
Now, then, what have we before us? A tottering edifice {501} of a
day! Surely, NO, but an organization the equal of which the world has
never seen; one which required a visit from the Father and the Son and
the assistance of Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John,
Moses, Elias, Elijah, and others, to bring about. It was not Joseph
Smith's church. He was but an instrument through which a great divine
institution began to take root in the earth. And yet, in view of all
this, we are told by the Reorganization that the Kingdom thus founded
was so frail, so weak, that it collapsed at the death of one man.
Without strength, without stability, it fell in its beginning to rise
no more for sixteen years.
We do not so understand this great latter-day work. Nay, nothing could
be further removed from our conception of it. To that man whose mind
has been lit up by its spirit and who understands its mission in the
world, such a view is impossible. If we examine ancient prophets, they
contradict it. If we go to modern revelation, the answer is no less
plain. If we consult common sense, it likewise says no. For divinely
founded it was; and for the last time was it restored. Neither again to
be taken away nor given to another people.
Not only has there been no rejection of the Church, but there has been
no cause for one. From the beginning, the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints has always stood for that which is true and good.
No people on earth can point to a better record. The bleak plains,
the silent graves, the barren desert, the magnificent temples, the
self-sacrificing elders, all bear testimony to its integrity and
stability. What would the Lord reject them for? Has he ever had as
loyal or as firm a people? Examine their history. Feel of the spirit
they carry with them. Follow their tracts. Notice the solid ruins of
their forsaken cities. Wherever they have planted their feet, there
have they builded to remain. The spirit of permanency has surely
rested upon them. The old Mormon homes in Nauvoo are among the most
substantial in the place to-day. The temple there would have been a
credit to the nation now had it remained unmolested. This same spirit
they carried with them into the barren desert, and there on its thirsty
soil, amid untold difficulties and hardships, reared yet more beautiful
and substantial commonwealths. Magnificent temples towering in the
now fruitful valleys proclaim the people busily engaged in preparing
themselves for yet greater things to come. Truly,
"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform."
{502} To unaided man everything looked black sixty years ago. Today
the severe experiences of those years are seen to be but a necessary
preparation for the greater work of building up the New Jerusalem.
Hardly necessary is it to add that they are fully prepared for this
work when the time comes to begin it, and no less evident is it that
a people who have been for half a century building temporary homes,
with the expectation of being called at any time to build up the center
stake, will hardly have had the experience necessary to build the
greatest and most permanent of all cities and the most glorious of all
temples.
Evidences are abundant on all sides that not only has God set up his
work for the last time, but also that this work is accomplishing its
mission. More clear, as time goes by, becomes the truth of Brigham
Young's words:
"If any man thinks he has influence among this people to lead away
a party, let him try it, and he will find out that there is power
with the Apostles which will carry them off victorious through all
the world and build up and defend the Church and Kingdom of God."
Having obtained a glimpse of the glorious light which this Latter-Day
Kingdom has shed upon the world, we are assured that He who founded it,
He who has guided it until now, will work out its future path.
_"We do not believe it is just to mingle religious influences with
civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered, and
another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual
rights of its members as citizens, denied."--Joseph Smith_.
{503}