We will now consider the origin of this "Reorganized" Church. Many
people have been lead to believe that this society had its origin at
the martyrdom, or immediately following the martyrdom. But this is not
the fact. Properly it did not come into existence until 1860--16 years
after the martyrdom, but the two men who were mainly responsible for
the organization commenced their work in 1852-3. These men were Jason
W. Briggs and Zenas H. Gurley. Perhaps a brief outline of their lives
would be interesting.
Jason W. Briggs who was really the founder of the "Reorganized" Church,
or, who perhaps did more than any other one man to bring about that
sect, was born June 25, 1821, at Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y. It is
said he joined the Church at Potosi, Wis., about 1841, but most of the
history of this man we get through the records of the "reorganization."
His home was at Beloit, Wis., from 1842 to 1854.[3] He remained with
the Church under the leadership of President Young and the Twelve until
the year 1846 (Reorg. Hist., 3:737). It is interesting to note in this
regard that the exodus commenced February 4, 1846, so we are quite safe
in saying that this man was one of "the fair weather friends."
After the exodus he joined James J. Strang, and in his organization
labored in the ministry quite extensively (Reorganite History 3; 737),
filling short missions to various parts of New York and in Wisconsin.
In September of 1849, with B. G. Wright, he organized the Waukesha
branch of Mr. Strang's church (Hist. Reorganized Church, 3; 737-8).
Now, remember this was in September, 1849, and the organization of
this branch was in the Strangite church. About this same time he also
organized the Beloit branch for the same organization.[4]
In 1850 he left Mr. Strang's organization and joined with William
Smith, who had himself been a follower of Mr. Strang until
excommunicated from that organization. In William Smith's church Mr.
Briggs accepted the position of "apostle;" but at the time of the
disintegration of William Smith's church in 1851, he withdrew, and in
1852 joined with Zenas H. Gurley. These two men then organized what
was called at the time the "New Organization of the Church," but today
known as the "Reorganized" Church.
In 1886, together with the family of Zenas H. Gurley,[5] Mr. Briggs
withdrew from the "Reorganization," which he had begotten. (Saints'
Herald, 33; 248-9). His reasons for withdrawing we will consider later.
Zenas H. Gurley was more active in the Church previous to the
martyrdom. He was ordained a Seventy in Nauvoo in 1844, and when the
Twenty-first quorum of Seventy was organized, April 6, 1845, he was
chosen as the senior president, he being the oldest of the presidents
chosen. He was a native of New York state, born May 29, 1801, and was
therefore 43 years of age in 1844.
We know something about this man's career between the martyrdom and the
exodus from the minutes of this quorum of Seventy. And as this record
contains some very interesting items I will read a few of them here. In
the minutes of November 2, 1845, we read:
"President Zenas H. Gurley apologized for his absence the two last
meetings. He then enlarged upon the subject (i. e., the subject
before the quorum). He said he had received the assurance of
an addition of power of the Priesthood upon every accession of
authority he had received. We ought to be the best men living in
consideration of our privileges as members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, enlightened as it was with divine
revelation, He exhorted the brethren not to aspire but to rise upon
their own merits and to visit the poor in their afflictions."
In the minutes of November 9, we are informed that President Erastus H.
Derby, one of the presidents of that quorum, said:
"Brother Brigham advised and counseled the Saints to get ready for
emigration in May, 1846. If he (Derby) possessed the wealth of the
whole nation he would not stay behind the Church going into the
wilderness."
Immediately following these remarks, Zenas H. Gurley arose and said, as
the minutes read, that "He confirmed the same." That is, he too would
rather forsake the wealth of the whole nation than fail to go with the
Church into the wilderness. Then continuing his remarks, he said:
"Small prototypes of great national events were given by command
of God, by the ancient prophets, and the like would probably
nowadays distinguish what God is about to do in the earth. * * *
Certain characters have been elected from before time to fulfill
certain purposes in the earth, called though they were from all
nations, tongues, and ranks. * * * The order of free masonry was
outrageously violated by the people of Hancock; but the pledges,
obligations and vows of the Latter-day Saints would, if adhered to,
exalt them to thrones dominions and power."
This was in relation to temple work. On the 21st of December, 1845, he
said:
"He remembered forcibly the sayings of the first presidents of
Seventy, that we should so live that no charge can be brought
against us. A few years ago the men in high standing in this
Church (the Twelve) were as little as we are. They obtained their
exaltation by patient submission to right, and minding their own
business. * * * There are many young men in this quorum able to
travel a great way. You will be called on to go, also to receive
your endowment. Keep always meek and a teachable spirit. The willow
always bends in the breeze and is also firm in the root. Though
many have gone out from the Church."--now remember this--"YET
it increases as fast as ever and evinces to the world as great
affinity and identity to the eternal plan of Jehovah as ever it
did."
This does not sound much like a falling away or a dissolution of the
Church, does it? And this is the testimony of Zenas H. Gurley given
before he left the Church. Again, on the 3rd of January, 1846, the
minutes say:
"Zenas H. Gurley enlarged on the subject of liberally donating
to the Church necessities. God said He has so shaped the scheme
of salvation as that to be saved and appear approved of God, we
must sacrifice of all that we possess. * * He felt filled with the
Spirit. The course the Church is pursuing has been spoken of by
Jesus Christ and the holy prophets of olden time."
There is his endorsement of the course of the Church. And on January
10, 1846:
"Zenas H. Gurley arose and said that the presidents of the quorum
had received their endowment."
Continuing he said--mark you, he was one of those presidents:
"He observed that it was remarkable for an unusual outpouring of
the Holy Spirit. He felt for the quorum that they should receive
their endowment. The Church authorities, the quorum of Seventy in
succession, to furnish the people engaged in the endowment, one day
each, and he wanted the quorum (Twenty-first) to acquit themselves
from every obligation."
It may be interesting to know that this man and his wife were endowed
in the Temple January 6, 1846. Here is the testimony of Zenas H. Gurley
in relation to the Temple ceremonies when he was in full fellowship in
the Church and was in possession of the spirit of his calling. At that
time he declared most emphatically that on that occasion the Spirit of
the Lord was unusual in its outpouring. If that is true and he could
testify to it then, there cannot be anything so very bad in these
glorious privileges of which he testified. In later years when he had
lost the spirit of the Gospel and was fighting the work he had formerly
upheld, he denounced in bitterness these sacred ordinances that he
on this occasion sanctioned. His former testimony is the one that is
consistent.
On the 17th of January, 1846, the minutes say:
"President Zenas H. Gurley arose and said * * The business before
the meeting was the arranging for a donation for the benefit of
those of the Priesthood engaged in the Temple. (Not on the Temple
but in it). He beautifully observed that it was his design, and
also his council's to exalt the Twenty-first quorum, and the quorum
should reciprocally return the favor; give support and influence
towards its welfare."
Then on the 25th of the same month:
"President Zenas H. Gurley arose and said that the business before
the meeting was to select persons to receive their endowment. He
had received direction to select 10 or 12 to go in the Temple. He
desired the brethren not to think it was partiality to make this
selection. The most important point to be considered was to learn
obedience. This was the principle taught by Jesus Christ."
He then proceeded to name the brethren for this purpose, and continuing
his remarks he said:
"The Saints who have passed through the trials of the Church were
generally rooted and grounded in love and have a witness in their
hearts or they would not have remained."
And I say amen to that. I wish with all my soul that Zenas H. Gurley
had been one of them for his own sake, for it was but 10 days after he
made this utterance, that the exodus from Nauvoo began, and this is
the last reference we have of Zenas H. Gurley while connected with the
Church! What became of him? "Because he had no root he withered away."
The terrible trials the Saints were forced to undergo in the wilderness
were too great for him; he could not stand the test. And while he had
declared that he would go with the Saints even if it required that he
should sacrifice the wealth of the whole nation, when put to the actual
test, his heart failed him and he sought safety in flight, he sought
his life, but lost the life eternal!
The next reference we have of him in the minutes of the Twenty-first
quorum is in 1855, where the statement is made that he had fled from
the Church and was associated with James J. Strang. Of his connection
with Mr. Strang, I prefer to read to you the account from the history
of the "Reorganized" Church, for you know then we will have it correct.
On page 744 of volume three we have the following:
"After the death of Joseph Smith, Elder Gurley investigated the
claims of the various leaders, and finally accepted those of James
J. Strang as being the most reasonable. A letter written by him
from Gananoque, Canada West, November 6, 1849, and published in
Gospel Herald, volume 4, page 187, indicates that he was then on a
mission to Canada in the interest of the organization under Strang.
On January 1, 1850, he again wrote from Landsdown, Upper Canada,
still engaged in the same work.
"A letter written January 10, 1850, from Pittsburg, Canada West,
manifested zeal in his work."
We have already shown how he manifested great zeal in his work in the
Twenty-first quorum before he left the Church. But to continue:
"March 15, 1850 he wrote from St. Lawrence, New York, that he was
assisting Brother Silsby in organizing the brethren and helping
them in getting ready for Beaver. He was present at a conference
held at Voree, Wisconsin, June 1 and 2, 1850, and in these minutes
we find this entry: 'Brother Z. H. Gurley was'--
Then there is an ellipsis, no doubt it would be interesting to know what
follows, and the account continues--
'sent to the northeastern parts of Wisconsin, on the presentation
of President Strang.'"
Now, please note carefully what follows:
"It was probably while on the mission thus appointed that Elder
Gurley raised up the Yellowstone branch, the members of which
helped to form the nucleus of the Reorganization."--Page 744-5.
We have already seen that Jason W. Briggs raised up the Waukesha branch
of the Strangite church in 1849, also that he raised up the Beloit
branch for the same organization, and now we have the admission fatal
to their organization, that the Yellowstone branch was also raised
up to Mr. James J. Strang. These branches you see became the nucleus
of the "Reorganization." They were not connected with the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to their own admission,
but were organized for the Church of James J. Strang. Yet, mark you,
these Strangite branches were admitted into what was called the "New
organization," or the "Reorganization," on their original baptisms.[6]
It is quite evident that the "Reorganization" is the offspring of the
church of this man James J. Strang.
Now let us return to Jason W. Briggs. In Mr. Heman C. Smith's "True
Succession," pages 134-135, we have an alleged revelation that
this man received that was the cause of the coming together of the
so-called "Reorganized" Church. I have already told you that he was
the most important man in this movement, if not the father of it. The
"revelation" is as follows:
"Therefore, let the elders whom I have ordained by the hand of my
servant Joseph, or by the hand of those ordained by him, resist not
this authority, nor faint in the discharge of duty, which is to
preach my gospel as revealed in the records of the Jews, and the
Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; and cry
repentance and remission of sins through obedience to the gospel,
and I will sustain them, and give them my Spirit; and in mine own
due time will I call upon the seed of Joseph Smith, and will bring
one forth, and he shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside
over the High Priesthood of my Church; and then shall the quorums
assemble, and the pure in heart shall gather, and Zion shall be
reinhabited, as I said unto my servant Joseph Smith."