Produced by the Mormon Texts Project,
http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Benjamin
Bytheway, Jean-Michel Carter, Ben Crowder, Meridith Crowder,
Cameron Dixon, Eric Heaps.
SUCCESSION
IN THE
PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH
OF
JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
By ELDER B. H. ROBERTS,
_Author of The Life of John Taylor, Outlines of Ecclesiastical
History, The Gospel_.
The keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you while thou art
in the world, neither in the world to come; nevertheless, through you
shall the oracles be given to another--even to the Church,--_The Lord
to Joseph Smith_, Doc. and Cov., sec. xc.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
THE DESERET NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1894.
Copyright applied for
February, 1894.
PREFACE.
The fact that many honest people in the United States and other
countries are being led astray by the pretensions of the "Reorganized
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," or "Josephite Church,"
as it is more commonly called, must justify the publication of this
work. My desire to preserve from error those not acquainted with the
order of the priesthood of God, and the facts of church history in the
great dispensation of the last days, has been the incentive which
prompted me to write it. Moreover, though the facts of church history
which of themselves disprove the claims of the "Josephite Church," are
abundant, yet are they scattered through the church works in such a
manner as to make it exceedingly difficult for the Elders of the
church to consult them; and, therefore, the writer believes he is
doing a service to those Elders who are and shall hereafter be engaged
in the ministry, especially to those who travel in the localities
where they will come in contact with "Josephite" pretensions--by
publishing this treatise on the SUCCESSION IN THE PRESIDENCY OF THE
CHURCH.
I have endeavored to treat the theme on as broad a basis as possible,
and have avoided technical disputes with our opponents, which only
serve to burden the subject with matter that is not only unprofitable
in itself, but wearying to the patience of the reader. Nor does the
successful issue of our argument demand that we stop to contend over
every error, either in history or argument, made by "Josephites." Did
we attempt it, our task would be endless. An attorney being called
upon to explain why his absent client should not be punished for
contempt of court, told the judge he could assign several good reasons
for the absence of his client--reasons which he hoped and believed
would clear him, even in the opinion of the judge, of any intention to
treat the court with disrespect. "You may name them," gruffly said the
judge. "Well, then, your honor, in the first place my client is dead;
and in the second place--" "Never mind your 'in the second place,'"
said the judge, "if the man is dead that is sufficient--the court
dismisses the case." So with this controversy; there being a few
leading facts of church history, and a principle or two connected with
the order of the priesthood which, if considered in the light of right
reason, dispose of all the claims made by "Josephites," it is not
necessary to consider their quibbles and all the details of their
sophistry.
The writer is under deep obligation to acknowledge assistance he has
received from a number of prominent brethren; to some for placing at
his disposal books and papers, and to others for reading the work from
the manuscript and greatly improving it by their invaluable
suggestions. The brethren who have thus rendered me assistance are too
numerous to mention by name, and it would be unfair to name a few
only, when the writer is indebted to so many and to each equally. The
consciousness of having assisted in a work which is designed to carry
enlightenment to many in regard to so important a matter as the
subject of this writing, will reward them for their labors.