We now come to the question of the rejection of the Church. Our friends
tell us that the Church was rejected for the reason that they failed
to complete the Nauvoo Temple "in the sufficient time granted by the
Lord." They say that the Temple was not finished. The president of the
"Reorganization" has made the following statement in this connection:
"The basement was fitted for occupation and the baptismal font was
ready for use. The auditorium on the first floor was completed
sufficiently to be seated and occupied for assembly purposes. The
stairway on the south side was completed for use. The auditorium
on the second floor, the stairway on the north side, nor any other
portion of the building except those above named were completed;
though the small rooms above the second floor auditorium were used
by President Young and the resident Church authorities for various
purposes." (History of Reorganized Church, 2:562).
His brother Alexander makes a similar statement.
In reply to this it is only necessary to say that it made no difference
whether the Temple was finished or not. The revelation of January 19,
1841, provided,
"That when I (the Lord) give a commandment to any of the sons of
men, to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all
their might, and with all they have, to perform that work, and
cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them, and
hinder them from performing that work; behold, it behooveth me to
require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to
accept of their offerings:
"And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and
commandments, I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my
work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent
not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.
"Therefore for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those
whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in
Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith
the Lord your God:
"And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing and
anguish and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and
fourth generation, so long as they repent not and hate me, saith
the Lord your God.
"And this I make an example unto you for your consolation
concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work, and have
been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression
saith the Lord your God."[10]
No sane man will dare say that the Saints were not hindered by their
enemies in the building of the Nauvoo Temple, both before and after the
martyrdom. Nevertheless, I maintain that they were diligent in their
labors as the following references will show, furthermore that the
Temple was completed. In the Times and Seasons, volume 3, page 775, is
to be found an editorial written by the Prophet Joseph in which he says:
"This noble edifice is progressing with great rapidity; strenuous
exertions are being made on every hand to facilitate its erection;
and materials of all kinds are in great state of forwardness. * * *
*
"While the busy multitudes have thus been engaged in their several
avocations, performing their daily labor, and working one-tenth of
their time, others have not been less forward in bringing in their
tithings and consecrations for the same great object. Never since
the formation of this Church was laid have we seen manifested a
greater willingness to comply with the requisitions of Jehovah; a
more ardent desire to do the will of God; more strenuous exertions
used, or greater sacrifices made, then there have been since the
Lord said: Let the Temple be built by the tithing of my people.
It seemed as though the spirit of enterprise, philanthropy, and
obedience rested simultaneously upon old and young; and brethren
and sisters, boys and girls, and even strangers, who were not
in the Church, united with an unprecedented liberality in the
accomplishment of this great work; nor could the widow in many
instances, be prevented, out of her scanty pittance, from throwing
in her two mites."
This was written in May, 1842. Remember the date, for I will have
occasion to refer to this again before we are through.
This editorial reveals to us what is meant by laboring with your
might and "to cease not their diligence." The Lord did not require
all the time of the Saints to be devoted on that building, but a
tithing--one-tenth of their time or means. That is all He required of
them in order that they should fulfill the commandment. This is also
set forth in the second vol. of the Times and Seasons, page 567, and in
vol., 3 pages 938-9, but I take it for granted that the reference given
is sufficient to cover this ground.