Documents Referenced in Documentary
Proclamation to the Saints Scattered Abroad (Published 15 January 1841)
Doctrine and Covenants Section 124 (Revelation received January 19, 1841 calling Hyrum Smith as “a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church”.
Statements Referenced in Documentary
Joseph Smith
“Would to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy . . .” (Whitney, Orson F. Life of Heber C. Kimball: An Apostle, the Father and Founder of the British Mission. Salt Lake City: Kimball Family, 1888. 322.)
“The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written.” (Sermon of Joseph Smith, April 8, 1843, see also Millennial Star 20:775, History of the Church 5:342)
“The things which John saw had no allusion to the scenes of the days of Adam, Enoch, Abraham or Jesus, only so far as is plainly represented by John, and clearly set forth by him. John saw that only which was lying in futurity and which was shortly to come to pass.” (Sermon of Joseph Smith, April 8, 1843, see also Millennial Star 20:775, History of the Church 5:342)
“I could pray in my heart that all my brethren were like unto my beloved brother Hyrum, who possesses the mildness of a lamb, and the integrity of a Job, and in short, the meekness and humility of Christ; and I love him with that love that is stronger than death.” (Joseph Smith, Journal, 1835–1836, Dec. 18, 1835)
“Noah came before the flood. I have come before the fire.” (Joseph Smith, Report of President Lorenzo Snow, 1-1-1892, Diary of Abraham H. Cannon, 16:30. See also Dennis B. Horne, ed., An Apostle’s Record: The Journals of Abraham H. Cannon (Clearfield, Utah: Gnolaum Books, 2004), 229.)
“They accuse me of polygamy, and of being a false prophet . . . I am no false prophet; I am no imposter. I have had no dark revelations, I have had no revelations from the devil. I have made no revelations; I have not got anything up myself. The same God that has thus far dictated and directed me, and inspired me and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and plural marriage, and the same God commanded me to obey it.
“He said to me that unless I accept it and introduce it and practice it, I together with my people should be damned and cut off from this time henceforth. And they say if I do so and so they will kill me. What shall I do! What shall I do! If I do not practice it I shall be damned with all my people. If I do teach it and practice it and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will.” (Dennison L. Harris, “Verbal Statement of Bishop Dennison L. Harris to President Joseph F. Smith in the Presence of Elder Franklin Spener, at the house of Bishop Dorius of Ephraim, San Pete County, Utah, May 15, 1881, reported by George F. Gibbs,” LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah. Spelling and punctuation have been modernized; in Remembering Joseph, p. 381)
Excerpts from Proclamation to the Saints Scattered Abroad
“In addition to all temporal blessings, there is no other way for the Saints to be saved in these last days, as the concurrent testimony of all the holy prophets clearly proves, for it is written—’They shall come from the east and be gathered from the west; the north shall give up, and the south shall keep not back’— ‘the sons of God shall be gathered from far, and his daughters from the ends of the earth:’ it is also the concurrent testimony of all the prophets, that this gathering together of all the Saints, must take place before the Lord comes to “take vengeance upon the ungodly,” and ‘to be glorified and admired by all those who obey his gospel.'”
“. . . let all those who appreciate the blessings of the Gospel, and realize the importance of obeying the commandments of heaven . . . first prepare for the general gathering; let them dispose of their effects as fast as circumstances will possibly admit, without making too great sacrifices, and remove to our city and county; establish and build up manufactures in the city, purchase and cultivate farms in the county. . . .”
“Let us then concentrate all our powers,. . . at the ‘City of Nauvoo’ . . . strive to emulate the action of the ancient covenant fathers and patriarchs . . . . The ‘Nauvoo Legion’ embraces all our military power, and will enable us to perform our military duty by ourselves . . . .”
“The ‘University of the City of Nauvoo’ will enable us to teach our children wisdom, to instruct them in all the knowledge and learning, in the arts, sciences, and learned professions. We hope to make this institution one of the great lights of the world.”
President Brigham Young
“. . . five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Cornerstone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me.” (President Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 1:133)
President John Taylor
“Behold, I raised up my servant Joseph Smith to introduce my Gospel . . . And to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to my Church and Kingdom; and to be a King and Ruler over Israel.” (June 27, 1882, Revelation to President John Taylor, see Unpublished Revelations Vol 1, 346-349)
Thus saith the Lord God who rules in heaven above and in the earth beneath. I have introduced my kingdom and my government even the kingdom of God that my servants have heretofore prophesied of that I taught my disciples to pray for saying Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. For the protection of my church for the maintenance promulgation and protection of civil and religious liberty in this nation and throughout the world and all men of every nation color and creed shall yet be protected and shielded thereby and every nation and kindred and people and Tom shall yet bow the knee to me and acknowledge me to be Amaan Christ to the glory of God the Father. (June 27, 1882, Revelation to President John Taylor, see Unpublished Revelations Vol 1, 346-349)
“Sister Emma got severely tried in her mind about the doctrine of Plural Marriage and she made use of the position she held [as President of the Relief Society] to try to pervert the minds of the sisters in relation to that doctrine. She tried to influence my first wife and to make her believe that the revelation was not correct.” (Relief Society Record, 1880–1892, CHL, July 17, 1880, 11, Woman’s Exponent, vol. 9, pp. 53-54)
The “reason why the Relief Society did not continue from the first organization was that Emma Smith the Pres. taught the Sisters that the principle of Celestial Marriage as taught and practiced by Joseph Smith was not of God.” (“Relief Society Report,” Relief Society Record, July 17, 1880; “R.S. Reports,” 53–54; Harrisville Ward, Farr West Stake, General Minutes, 1850–1977, CHL, vol. 14, June 29, 1881.)
President Wilford Woodruff
It has been my faith and belief from the time that I was made acquainted with the Gospel that no greater prophet than Joseph Smith ever lived on the face of the earth save Jesus Christ. (President Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses. Vol. 21. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, October 6, 1855. 317.)
President Joseph F. Smith
“In various dispensations there are various differences in regard to certain requirements of the Gospel. For instance, in the day of Noah, when he preached the Gospel to the antediluvian world, he was given a special commandment, to build an ark, that in case the people would reject him and the message sent unto them, that himself and all who believed on him might be saved from the destruction that awaited them.
“In this dispensation there is a principle or commandment peculiar to it. What is that? It is the gathering the people unto one place. The gathering of this people is as necessary to be observed by believers, as faith, repentance, baptism, or any other ordinance.
“It is an essential part of the Gospel of this dispensation, as much so, as the necessity of building an ark by Noah, for his deliverance, was a part of the Gospel of his dispensation. Then the world was destroyed by a flood, now it is to be destroyed by war, pestilence, famine, earthquakes, storms, and tempests, the sea rolling beyond its bounds, malarious vapors, vermin, disease, and by fire and the lightnings of God’s wrath poured out for destruction upon Babylon. The cry of the angel unto the righteous of this dispensation is, ‘Come out of her O my people, that ye partake not of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.’ . . .” (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 127-128)
The day will come—and it is not far distant, either—when the name of the Prophet Joseph Smith will be coupled with the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, as his representative, as his agent whom he chose, ordained and set apart to lay anew the foundations of the Church of God in the world . . . (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], p. 134; as quoted in “Joseph Smith: Restorer of Truth,” Ensign, (Dec. 2003): p. 17.)
President Joseph Fielding Smith
In accord with this calling and commandment [D&C 124], the Prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon Hyrum Smith all the keys, authority and gifts of the priesthood which he, the Prophet, held, and which were formerly held by Oliver Cowdery. The Lord also revealed to Hyrum Smith all that was necessary to make him completely and to the full degree, a witness with his brother Joseph, as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church, and to stand through all time and all eternity at the head of this dispensation with his brother Joseph, a witness for Jesus Christ. (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, Apr. 1930, 91–93; see also Doctrines of Salvation, ed. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. (1954–56), 1:216–19.)
“The question is sometimes asked: If Oliver Cowdery was ordained to hold the keys jointly with the Prophet, and after his loss by transgression, this authority was conferred on Hyrum Smith, then why do we not have today in the Church the same order of things, and an Assistant President as well as two counselors in the First Presidency? The answer to this is a simple one. It is because the peculiar condition requiring two witnesses to establish the work, is not required after the work is established. Joseph and Hyrum Smith stand at the head of this dispensation, jointly holding the keys, as the two necessary witnesses fulfilling the law as it is set down by our Lord in his answer to the Jews [see Matthew 18:16]. Since the gospel will never again be restored there will be no occasion for this condition to arise again. We all look back to the two special witnesses, called to bear witness in full accord with the divine law” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:222).
Scripture
“Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people. I will let him come freely into my presence and he can come close to me; who else, indeed, would risk his life by coming close to me? – it is Yahweh who speaks.” (Jeremiah 30:21, The Jerusalem Bible)
President Heber C. Kimball
“Are the keys here? Yes, the very keys that our Father placed upon His Son Jesus; and He placed that authority upon Peter and his associates; and they have been restored again to this earth through the ministration of the Prophet Joseph.
“It is written that the first shall be last, and the last first. This is the last kingdom, and the Lord will make it first; for it has got to raise up, and establish, and confer power upon every one of those kingdoms that have been. That is what we have got to do. Why do you not realize this? You could, if you lived your religion and called upon God by day and by night.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, pp. 27-34, July 12th, 1857)
“You call us fools; but the day will be, gentlemen and ladies, whether you belong to this Church or not, when you will prize brother Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Living God, and look upon him as a God . . .” (President Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:88)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“For three and a half years, the precise time spent by the Lord in his ministry to the ancient Jews.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 390)
Eliza R. Snow Smith
“Emma Smith gave [the Relief Society] up so as not to lead the society in erro[r],” (Organization of the West Jordan Relief Society, “A Book of Records Containing the Minutes of the Organization of Proceedings of the Female Relief Society of West Jordan Ward,” 12 April 1868 (LR 10051 Series 14 Reel #2].); Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith pg. 342)
William Clayton
“In this council was prest. Joseph chosen as our prophet Priest, & King by Hosannas. In this council was the principles of eternal truths rolled forth to the hearers without reserve and the hearts of the servants of God made to rejoice exceedingly.” (William Clayton Journal, 1 January 1845)
Mosiah Hancock
“‘Brethren, the Lord Almighty has this day revealed to me something I never comprehended before! That is–I have friends who have at a respectful distance been ready to ward off the blows of the adversary. (He brought his hand down on my father’s head [Levi Hancock] as he was acting as body-guard to the Prophet) While others have pretended to be my friends, and have crept into my bosom and become vipers, and have been my most deadly enemies. I wish you to be obedient to these true men as you have promised.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR ME?’ Yes! was the shout. ‘”You have said you are willing to die for me–‘. Then he drew his sword and cried, ‘I WILL DIE FOR YOU! If this people cannot have their rights, my blood shall run upon the ground like water’.
“When the Prophet had his hand upon my father’s head, I said to myself, ‘I trust that I will be as true to young Joseph [Joseph III], the Prophet’s son, as my father is to his father’. Afterwards at home, I told my father of my thoughts, and he said, ‘No, Mosiah, for God has shown to Brother Joseph that his son, Joseph, will be the means of drawing many people away from this Church after him. Brother Joseph gave us to understand that it was our duty to follow the Twelve.'” (Autobiography of Mosiah Hancock)
Orson Pratt
“I am a ruined man! My future prospects are blasted! The testimony upon both sides seems to be equal: The one in direct contradiction to the other–[H]ow to decide I know not[,] neither does it matter[,] for let it be either way[,] my temporal happiness is gone in this world[. I]f the testimonies of my wife and others are true[,] then I have been deceived for twelve years past–my hopes are blasted and gone as it were in a moment–my long toils and labors have been in vain. If on the other hand the other testimonies are true[,] then my family are ruined forever. Where then is my hope in this world? It is gone–gone not to be recovered!! Oh God, why is it thus with me! My sorrows are greater than I can bear! Where I am henceforth[,] it matters not.” (Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt Papers, LDS church archives)
Other
“If any person or persons, within this state, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do, at any time, marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending, shall, on conviction, be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned not exceeding two years.” (The Revised Code of Laws of Illinois, 1827)
“Conference is over, and some of the most blasphemous doctrines have been taught by J[oseph] Smith & others ever heard of. Such as…That J[oseph]. Smith is a god to this generation, that secret meetings are all legal and right and that the Kingdom must be set up after the manner of a Kingdom (and of course have a King) &c. &c. . (William Law, Nauvoo Diary, 1 January 1844, in Cook, William Law: Biographical Essay, 49.)
“. . . we will not acknowledge any man as king or law-giver to the church; for Christ is our only king and law-giver.” (Resolution 12, Nauvoo Expositor)
“You are voting for a man who contends all governments are to be put down and the one established upon its ruins. You are voting for an enemy to your government” (Francis Higbee, Nauvoo Expositor)
“Is it not a shame and a disgrace, to think we have a man in our midst, who will defy the laws of our country; the laws which shed so gentle and nourishing an influence upon our fathers, which fostered and protected them in their old age from insult and aggression; shall we their sons, lie still and suffer Joseph Smith to light up the lamp of tyranny and oppression in our midst?” (Francis Higbee, Nauvoo Expositor)
“The Hebrew word for “olive tree” is es shemen, which literally means ‘tree of oil.” It is from a primitive root meaning “to shine.” It means “richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, olive.” It is related to the word shemesh, “to be brilliant,” and which also is the Hebrew word for the “sun,” that brightly shining orb in the sky.” (William F. Dankenbring, http://www.triumphpro.com/olive-tree-mystery.htm)
