United States vs. Mormon Church

United States vs. Mormon Church

_______________ The Mormon Church has endeavoured, through her literature and pulpit to persuade the people that the trouble between the United States and the church was occasioned by the wickedness of the nation, as against the divinely commissioned people of the Lord, that the righteousness of the Saints was a standing rebuke to the corruption of the nation and hence the trouble, which resulted in the murder of many people, the driving of the Saints from their lands and possessions, and the assassination of their prophet, Joseph Smith.

We propose to open the pages of history with the hope that the real facts may be disclosed and the truth be known to all men.

Joseph Smith and his people make certain claims, and have endeavoured to put into operation the methods that will result in the destruction of the United States Government, and not only that Government, but every other nation now existing upon the earth, that upon the debris of all the nations of the earth, God inspired Joseph Smith and his people to establish a kingdom, to which Christ would come and reign therein forever.

Smith’s First Vision.

Smith’s first vision, said to have been given him when he was less than fifteen years of age, is as follows: God and Christ came down to have a talk with Smith in the woods at the rear of his father’s farm. The Father begins the conversation by introducing his son, Christ, to Smith in these words, "This is my beloved son, hear him." It seems that the Father made the trip all the way from heaven just in order to have the great privilege of introducing Jesus to Joseph, for there is no evidence that He spake another word. Smith brushes aside all formalities and starts business at once by asking the all-important question in a young farmer lad of fifteen winters, "Which of all the sects was right, and which I should join?" I was answered that I must join none of them for they were all wrong, that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight, that those professors were all corrupt: They drew near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrine the commandments of men having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."

He informs us that after some further chat, they left and he found himself lying on his back looking up into heaven.Church History, Vol. 1, page 10.

If this vision is to be relied upon the following must be conceded:

• First -- Smith was not to join any church.

• Second -- The churches are all wrong.

• Third -- All the creeds are abominable in the sight of God.

• Fourth -- Those professing to be Christians in those churches or presenting the creeds, were all corrupt, a great mass of hypocrites, denying the power of God and only giving him lip service while their hearts were far from God."

Just take this in for a moment: Men and women who have given their lives to promote Christianity, as they see it, they who have gone to the jungles of Africa, to the darkness of China and Japan, those who have braved the dangers of frontier life among the wild and savage tribes of America and the rest of the world, those who have preached the gospel as they understood it, were all corrupt, their teaching was an abomination in the sight of God; the mother who consecrated her children to Christ in the evening twilight while they knelt at her knee, she was just giving lip service while her heart was far from him, in other words, she was playing the hypocrite. This sweeping condemnation and anathematization of every minister, layman, and church is characteristic of both Mormon literature and pulpit utterance from that day to this, and it is only when they desire to obtain favor that they withhold this cardinal principle of their faith.

Jesus Christ is supposed to have told Joseph Smith that he was commissioned to "lay the foundation of this church -- the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth with which I the Lord am well pleased."Doctrine and Covenants1:5. This is the faith of the Mormon, or Latter Day Saint Church to this day, and every effort to cover this up is a manifestation of hypocrisy on their part, and it is this that has caused them much trouble with the people in every part of the world where they have attempted to establish a church.

They are taught that the church established by Smith is the Kingdom of God, and that the other churches are the kingdom of the Devil.Doctrine and Covenants3:13, 87, 1-3.

Smith to Organize a Kingdom That Will Destroy All Other Nations.

They have taught that Joseph Smith was directed by the Lord to set up the Kingdom, or organize the church, and that it would never be destroyed, but that it should destroy all other churches and kingdoms and that the judgments of the Lord would come upon all churches and kingdoms, and that Smith and his people would triumph over all, and Christ would come to them and reign with them in the place called Independence, Missouri, but known in Smith’s revelations as The City of Enoch, The New Jerusalem, and Zion. In support of this they present the following from the Bible and the revelations of Joseph Smith:

"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 consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever."Daniel 2:44.

"But the judgment shall set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end, and the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of Saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."Daniel 8:26-27.

Smith says that Christ told him how the destruction of these kingdoms will be accomplished. I cite but a few of the methods of destructions.

"Wherefore I, the Lord, will send forth flies upon the face of the earth which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them, and their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against Me, and their flesh shall fall off their bones, and their eyes from their sockets, and it shall come to pass that the beasts of the forests and the fowls of the air ball devour them up, and that great and abominable church, which is whore of all the earth, shall be cast down by devouring fire."Doctrine and Covenants28:5.

"But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour, unto the counsel which I the Lord will give unto them. Behold, they shall begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour -- and they shall never cease to prevail until the Kingdoms of this world are under my feet and the earth is given unto the saints to possess it forever and ever."Doctrine and Covenants100:2.

Smith’s revelations show, not only that he was to organize the only true church upon the earth, but the kingdom thus established would destroy all other churches and the kingdoms of this world would be humbled till they submitted to them and become the kingdoms of God, to be ruled over by his Saints, and in order to start this great work He commanded them first to sell their property and collect their wealth and all move to the little village of Kirtland in the State of Ohio, there a city would be built and a great temple erected.

"If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments, and behold thou shalt consecrate all thy properties that which thou hast unto me, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken, and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church."Book of Commandments, 44, 26;Doctrine and Covenants42:8. In a later edition of this book the word "all" is taken out, and the word "of" inserted, but I have a copy of the original revelation as first published. The change was made because many left the church rather than give all their property to the church, but after the change was made the authorities became strong enough to again secure a revelation on the same matter and it says about the same thing, in fact the books agree on it:

"In answer to the question, O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing? Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to put into the hands of the bishop of My church of Zion, for building of mine use, and for the laying the foundation of Zion, and for the priesthood for the debts of the Presidency of my church; and this shall be standing law unto them forever, saith the Lord."Doctrine and Covenants106:1; 42:8-10; 101:10-21; 51:1-2; 72:3. So the people sold their property and travelled to their sacred mecca, Kirtland, Ohio. The little burg was surveyed into city lots, a temple s erected, in which Christ and several others from heaven talked to Smith and some others. This city was to dazzle the world, be the wonder of the earth, Smith and many others changed their names, Smith got three new names, viz.: Enoch, Gazelem and Baurak-Ale. He and his relatives and friends secured their inheritance and built their homes, and started a bank and run things with high hand, till many lost hope in both God and man, as well as their property and left the church. Even William Smith, the prophet’s brother denounced him and gave him a sound good thrashing, but being a Smith he was forgiven. But the trouble did not end here. Smith was tarred and feathered and finally left Kirtland on horseback, king for a more congenial clime. I shall not take time and space to record all this history, but shall give you the references and you may depend upon it every point stated here is taken from their own books.Doctrine and Covenants, Sections 91, 92, 93, 100, 77;Church History, Vol. 1, pages 240, 244; Vol. 1, pages 614, 624. The next move to establish the Kingdom of God that was to break pieces and destroy all other kingdoms, was made at the little town of Independence, Jackson County, in the State of Missouri. This place was dedicated to the Lord, the temple that Christ was to make His appearance in was to be built upon a certain lot, then a wild bush covered with trees. This was consecrated with great pomp. The Lord was to give the land unto His saints, for an everlasting inheritance, the wicked were to be driven out, the besom of God’s wrath was to be poured out upon them, and here Zion was to shine in all its splendor. The pioneers who had secured the land from the government were told from time to time that they were to get out, or the judgments of the Lord would overtake them. Joseph Smith was directed by the Lord to write to the kings and presidents and rulers of all the nations, they were to come to Zion, send their wealth there and be good as directed by the revelations given through Smith or the or the time of judgment would soon be upon them, the wrath of the Almighty would soon make an end of their wickedness and rebellion.Doctrine and Covenants57:77, 83:45, 72:107.

David Whitmer.

David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and one of the first six baptized into the new church, but who left the church in a few years never to return, informs us that Smith was a fallen prophet, that his revelations were false, that he has as much evidence that Joseph Smith had the revelation on polygamy, as he has to believe that George Washington ever lived. He declared that the revelations of Smith fell into the hands of the people of the world, and that the people of Missouri saw by those revelations that they were considered by the church as intruders upon the land of Zion, and that soon an effort would be made to drive them forth. They called a meeting of the citizens, and decided that it was either for them to drive the Mormons away, or the Mormons would soon be strong enough to drive them from their homes. The fight started; the Mormon printing press was destroyed, and some houses were torn down, and the Mormons driven out of their Zion. Now, while we do not agree with much suffering caused by the people as against helpless women and children, yet it must be admitted that the Mormons by living up to the pretended revelations and instructions of Smith were to blame. Whitmer’s Address, 38, 54.

Smith Raised An Army.

Smith soon came out with revelations to fix up the trouble. God was going to vex the nation and cut off the wicked, and the Saints were to return and obtain their property.Doctrine and Covenants98:12-23.

They would prevail against their enemies, and the kingdoms of the world would soon crumble and the Saints were to come in to their everlasting possessions, God’s presence would be with them and when they cursed their enemies, God would curse them too, while Joseph was to organize the kingdom.Doctrine and Covenants100:1-6; 102:1-9.

Now let us permit the son of the prophet to tell us what his father was commanded to do. Joseph Smith, the prophet, raised an army to go to Missouri, they numbered several hundred and started from Kirtland, Ohio, gathering in number by the way. Their wagons were filled with food, clothing and munitions of war, they marched over one thousand miles, walking by the side of their wagons, filled with war material and food. "They provided themselves with fire-arms and all sorts of munitions of war." While they were marching Joseph had made provisions with his people in Missouri to erect a munitions plant in which they made swords, dirks, pistols, rifles and other arms." During the long march, angels were often seen in their camp, they tell that their feet were blistered and their stockings wet with blood. The Lord protected them by sending large hailstones upon their enemies that made holes in their hats. In describing the hailstones H. C. Kimball says they were as large as hens’ eggs, and Lyman Wight says some of them were as large as turkey eggs. These hailstones never touched the brethren of the Lord, though at times they hit the rifle stocks of the enemy and broke them. Now, these two witnesses were leading apostles of the Lord, so we should believe them. Joseph says that the water of a little river rose thirty feet in thirty minutes, and where the river was forty feet deep, the evening before it was only up to our ankles. The Governor of the State of Missouri was called up. He advised the army to disband or there would be bloodshed, but Smith considered the Governor a coward, and commanded his army to march on, that they would not make terms "with land pirates and murderers," sweeping past Governor Dunklin, they soon ran up against the sheriff, of the county, Mr. Gillium. He tried to advise, but the army led by Smith went forward to conquer.

Joseph Smith was a real Napoleon. He chose twenty men for his life-guard, his brother Hyrum was captain, and George A. Smith was his armor bearer. The kingdom of God was to be established in a hurry and the United States would be remembered pity and contempt.

Cholera hit the camp, sixty-eight fell before it, Smith being one of the smitten. Fourteen of the army died, they could not make coffins so they wrapped them in blankets. The people were discouraged and many left the church, but Joseph was ready with another revelation, and he told them the plague came because of disobedience. He said, "Ye are not willing to listen to my words, but have been in rebellion, that God had decreed that sickness should come upon them, and they should die like sheep with the rot." Then he sympathizingly said, "I am sorry, but I cannot help it." For a full account readChurch History, Vol. 1, 454-487.

Now to conclude this part of the story, let us ask, Did God direct Smith to organize this army, erect munitions factories to manufacture pistols, rifles, swords, dirk knives, and all kind of war munitions? Did God tell Smith to drag those people over a thousand miles, send his angels, and floods and hail-stones like turkey eggs to break the guns of their enemies? Did God request those poor people to suffer all those deprivations and such sickness and death and then suffer them to make an ignominious failure, or was it the man Smith that caused all this trouble?

Just think of the impudence of Smith, after these people had suffered starvation, cold, sickness and death; after they had sold their property, giving him the money; after they had followed him from their comfortable farms and city homes in the eastern countries, while some of them look upon the dead faces of those they loved in life, and amid their tears they laid them away without a coffin, for Smith to tell them this death and agony was caused by the Lord because they had rebelled against Smith in some little matters concerning camp life, and the wonder of it all was that many of the poor deluded people still followed him, but many apostatized and exposed Smith, so that hundreds left the church.

Many of them honestly believed that Smith was God’s representative, in the establishing of the Kingdom of God that was to break in pieces the United States and all other governments and bring them into subjection to his religion and power, and because of their faith in his revelations, they went forth to conquer the world.

Smith’s Army Destroy Towns.

Herewith I submit the history of the Mormon war as told by the Governor of the State of Missouri, under date of October 26, 1838: General John B. Clark, 1st. Division Missouri Militia.

Sir: -- Application has been made to the Commander-in-Chief, by the citizens of Daviess County, in this state, for protection and to be restored to their homes and property, with intelligence that the Mormons with an armed force have expelled the inhabitants of that county from their homes, have pillaged and burned their dwellings, driven off their stock, and were destroying their crops, that they (the Mormons) have burned to ashes the towns of Gallatin and Miliport in said county." The letter continues to instruct the General to call out his soldiers and go forthwith to the seat of the trouble. The next morning he wrote the same General as follows:

"Since the order of the morning to you, directing you to raise men, I naive received information of the most appalling character which changes the whole face of things and places the Mormons in the attitude of open and avowed defiance of the laws, and of having made open war upon the people of the State. Your orders are, therefore, to hasten your operations with all possible speed. The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State, if necessary, for the public good. Their outrages are beyond all description."Church History, Vol. 2, pages 216-217.

I have given but a brief history of their conduct, but the reader will remember this comes not from a mob, or some excited bigot, but from the highest authority of the State of Missouri, the Governor, yet because the Mormons were whipped in the fight and driven from the State, they have told the world they were persecuted because they were Saints of the Lord, when the facts were, they were following the revelations of Smith, with the thought that they were doing their duty in driving the people from their homes in order that Zion would be built up. The people did not like the, treatment, and refusing to be converted to Mormonism, they appealed to the United States authorities, with the result that they were punished. Much more could be written, but we think that a discerning public will have discovered by this brief history, the cause of the trouble, and conclude the Mormons were the dupes of Smith.

Smith Foretells Destruction of United States.

After this terrible trouble in which many were killed on both sides Smith claimed the Lord directed him to go to Washington to see the President of the United States, and secure justice for himself and people. The President declined to submit to the persuasions of Smith and his comrades, whereupon Smith still undaunted, comes forth with the following:

"Now we shall endeavour to express our feeling and views concerning the President, as we have been eye witnesses of his majesty. He is a small man, sandy complexion, and ordinary features, with frowning brow and considerable body, but not well proportioned, as to his arm and legs and to use his own words, is "quite fat." On the whole we ’think he is without body or parts, as no one part seems to be proportioned to another, therefore, instead of saying body and parts, we saw body and party, or partyism, if you please to call it, and in fine to come directly to the point, he is so much a fop or a fool (for he judged our cause before he knew it) we could find no place to put trust in him. For a general thing there is but little solidity and honorable deportment among those who are sent here to represent the people, but a great deal of pomposity and show."Church History, Vol. 2, page 397

He wrote the above from Washington, and on his arrival home in the City of Nauvoo, he wrote the following of his judgment upon the people of the United States, and the men in office, and shows the Lord told him a little secret, the destruction of the United States; but let him speak:

"I arrived safely at Nauvoo, having witnessed many vexatious movements in government officers, whose sole object should be the peace and prosperity and happiness of the whole people, but instead of this, I discovered that popular clamour and personal aggrandizement were the ruling principles of those in authority, and my heart faints within me, when I see by the visions of the Almighty the end of this nation, if she continues to disregard the cries and petitions of her virtuous citizens, as she has done and is now doing.Church History, Vol. 2, page 419.

Missouri To Sink To Hell. The above is in keeping with many other prophecies and visions, be claimed the Lord sent him. Here is another: When J. C. Calhoun, who aspired to be president of the United States, wrote to Smith, he replied: "Yet remember, if the Latter Day Saints are not restored to all their rights, that God will come out of His hiding place and vex this nation with a sore vexation, yea, the consuming wrath of an offended God shall smoke through the nation with as much distress and woe as Independence has blazed through with pleasure and delight. While I have power of body and mind, while water runs and grass grows, white virtue is lovely and vice hateful, and while a stone points out a sacred spot where a fragment of American liberty once was, I or my posterity will plead the cause of injured innocence until Missouri makes atonement for all her sins, or sinks disgraced, degraded and damned to hell, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.Church History, Vol. 2, pages 710-711. The Mormons have never lost an opportunity to speak disparagingly of the United States and other governments, unless for cause, they, for the time being, wished to secure some favor. The above visions, prophecies and curses upon the United States, have not injured that great country, she has prospered and become one of the greatest nations upon the earth, and Missouri has blossomed into one of the most magnificent of the Union. The nation never complied with Smith’s demands, yet Missouri has not sunk disgraced to hell, strange!

Smith Ordained King.

Some time after that as Smith saw the curses promised failed to materialize, he thought he would try and run the nation himself. The Lord had made him Prophet, Seer, Translator and Revelator of the church, he secured the right to be sole trustee of all the church properties, some say he was crowned a king, as was one of his successors in office. This can hardly be denied as William Marks, the President of the High Council, and the man who ordained young Joseph, and was his Counselor says: "I was also witness of the introduction (secretly) of a kingly form of government, in which Joseph suffered himself to be ordained a king, to reign over the house of Israel forever." Saints’ Herald, Vol. 51, Jan. 27, 1904, page 73. "Ye shall have no king."Doctrine and Covenants38:5. The Lord had made him His sole mouthpiece to this generation; if any man would presume to go to law with him that man was cursed, so why not run the nation, so he was proclaimed by a great gathering of his people to be a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. He had a pull as Mayor of the city, and General of the Nauvoo Legion, and so the Elders and Apostles were sent out to electioneer for him, and he published a paper expressing his views, and asking for the vote of the people, coming out as an independent ticket. The people smiled and Smith and his dupes mounted the political stump, but that was all there was of it. For a more complete history of this nonsense, readChurch History, Vol. 2, pages 713-726.

Smith Destroyed Printing Press. This occurred in 1844, a few months after this, sworn evidence galore (which has been published many times and lately by the writer) was printed by many of Smith’s former followers, including some of the leading men of the church, showing that Smith was guilty of crimes. He had been charged with having revelations on polygamy, and having many wives and concubines, and that he had insulted both young maidens and married women, and their husbands, fathers and brothers (strange as it may appear) did not seem to excuse the Prophet. When they complained they say their lives were in danger, by reason of his Danite Band, sworn to kill his enemies. Well, they published a paper, filling the first edition with their affidavits. This was too much for Smith. As Mayor he called the people together, and decided to destroy the property and they went at it and destroyed the press and threw the type and other materials into the streets. The proprietors fled for their lives. Smith in time was called to answer before the law, and while in jail he was shot to death by a number of people who broke into the jail. His son tries to excuse his father of this dastardly attempt upon the liberty of the people, by saying: "In the evening of the day that the Expositor press and material was destroyed, a crowd gathered on Main Street and among them was the Mayor, my father. I heard my father’s voice, measured and clear, "What ever you may think about it, you have this day made me do, in my official capacity as your officer, an act that I believe we shall all be sorry for and that will make us great trouble hereafter." Joseph the Prophet, page 746.

I am sorry that his son was weak enough to try to cover up his father’s guilt. His apology only reveals another contemptible trait in his father’s character. That father held the positions of Prophet, Seer, Revelator, Translator, sole trustee of all church property, God’s mouthpiece to the church, the only man in the world who could give revelations for the government of the church, his word was law, none dare oppose it under the penalty of a curse, he was mayor of the city, general of the Nauvoo Legion of soldiers, yet having his base and wicked life bared before the world in that paper, his polygamy and infidelity, be had the press destroyed, and then was low and mean and cowardly enough to try and throw the blame on the poor dupes who had obeyed his command.

Soon after the printing establishment referred to was destroyed and the proprietors had fled from the city to save their lives, and Smith as his own son admits, tried to throw the blame for his dastardly act upon his followers, those interested travelled to the county seat and obtained a writ for his arrest, and with others Smith and his brother fled from the state. It is said that this affected some of their followers, and they were by some considered cowards, to escape from the state, in place of facing the courts. So they returned to Nauvoo appeared before the judge, and were placed under bail to appear at the next term of the Circuit Court.

Smith Arrested on The Charge of Treason Against The State of Illinois. The same day they were arrested on a charge of treason against the state of Illinois, and were committed to jail.Church History, Vol. 2, pages 737-744. The people of the State knowing that Smith had men and money at his command, knowing that he had escaped from the State of Missouri when charged with treason and that he had escaped from the State of Ohio under several serious charges, and, that many other times he had escaped from justice, concluded to take care of him this time, so the mob came, overpowered the jail guards, some entered the jail, while others remained outside to get him if he jumped from the open window, which he eventually did. The mob fired several shots through the panel of the door, killing Hyrum Smith, and wounding John Taylor.

Now let us have a look at the other side of Joseph Smith. He was Prophet, Seer, Revelator, Translator, Sole Trustee of church property, President of the Church, God’s sole mouthpiece to the church, General of the Nauvoo Legion, Mayor of the city, and had lately been crowned king. It is said that he was more like Christ than any man who ever lived, "that he did more for the salvation of men in this world than any man that ever lived in it, save Jesus only." One of the, poetesses wrote of him as follows:

"Great men have fall’n, and mighty men have died -- Nations have mourn’d their favorites and their pride, But two so wise, so virtuous, great and good, Before on earth, at once, have never stood." This was written by E. R. Snow of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Miss Snow swore she was one of Joseph Smith’s wives. Her brother, an apostle under Smith, and who became President of the Utah Mormon church, told me he knew that his sister was a plural wife to Joseph Smith, and that he had taught him polygamy. He died confirming this statement. A few days before his death Smith is reported to have said: "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter." This was to show that he would meet death like Jesus did, The Lamb of God.Isaiah 53:7.

Let us see if he did die like Christ. They have published in their own history that he had a six shooter pistol concealed on his person, and when his brother was shot through the closed door "Joseph reached his pistol through the door, which was pushed a little ajar, and fired three of the barrels, the rest missed fire. He killed two men and shot the arm of a third man." His brethren boast of this act, and say: "In him was the spirit of dauntless bravery exemplified." Reorganized Church journal of History, Oct. 1918, pages 399-416. 

"During the last hour of Smith’s life, he gave the jail guard money to buy wine, pipes and tobacco." Joseph the Prophet, pages 522-523. The facts show that Smith had been leading a life of hypocrisy and crime. Thousands of his faithful and most prominent followers had discovered his infamy, and left him, and from time to time exposed him. At the time of his death he was under arrest for treason against the State, and other charges were pending against him and his attempt to destroy all national governments and set up what he called the Kingdom of God on earth, had failed. When in the, midst of his wine, tobacco and murder he attempted to escape from the jail window, when he was shot dead.

I ask was there anything in all this to show that he lived and died like Christ, Christ was the "Lily of the Valley," "the one altogether lovely." He was innocent of any crime he was the personification of honor. The synonym of virtue and true manhood. He destroyed no printing press, debauched no maidens, never invaded the sacred precincts of other men’s homes to destroy the womanhood of the Country. Had no revelations permitting whoredoms, concubinage and polygamy. Nor did he spend His last hour with wine and tobacco while he, murdered two men and spent His last moment trying to kill more. The effort made to compare Smith with the "Holy One" is the worst form of blasphemy. Words fail me to express my feelings on the matter so we draw the curtain over the dark picture. The Reorganized Church Are Against The United States.

Since the death of Smith, his followers have continued their tirade of abuse and slander against the Government of the United States, and are still looking for the judgments of God to come upon that nation because of their treatment of the prophet and his kingdom. They at times make speeches and hoist "Old Glory," but they do that for a purpose as I have already shown and will continue to show.

I herewith submit part of an article written on the murder of Joseph Smith, published in October, 1918, showing they still desire to educate their people along the same old lines against the United States. They may say it is but a reprint of that published years ago, that may be true, but if that is not their sentiments today, why republish it to the grand-children of those formerly concerned. Their faith in Joseph Smith, his prophecies of the United States and all other kingdoms and the final triumph of the Mormon kingdoms is unchanged."

"Shades of hell," we turn to you. Unroll the ponderous scroll of your grand secretary that chronicle of all the deeds of bloody crime, heartless villainy and depravity that have marked the world’s history from the death of righteous Abel, and see if they all afford a: parallel with the crime of the last fifteen years, committed in a boasted age of civilization, religion and liberty

Farewell to liberty, farewell to the rights of man, farewell to the institutions of a boasted republic, farewell to our glorious constitution, adieu to the blood of illustrious fathers, farewell to virtue, honesty, peace, tranquillity and national happiness, farewell to the dulcet songs of freedom that were wont to animate the sons of Columbia, farewell to the Stars and Stripes of our national banner, that falsely tell the oppressed, as they float in the harbors of foreign climes that America is a land of liberty. These have passed away and become the things that were, and now are not. The bubble that contained them all floated for time upon the surface of a quiet sea, but the tempest has broken out in its fury. The bubble has burst and they have flown, and soon the judgments of the Great God will wind up the scene, and spread the pall of darkness and desolation over the relics of a ruined world that blood will not be easy to wash out." Journal of History, published by the Reorganized Church, Vol. 2, Oct. 1918, pages 425-426.

Hear the prophecy of one of the former apostles of the Mormon hierarchy:

"The day will come when the United States government and all others will be uprooted and the kingdoms of this world will be united in one and the kingdom of our God (which means the Mormon hierarchy) will govern the whole earth and have universal sway." This certainly reveals a very clearly defined purpose. The leaders of the organization have never changed this definite purpose nor halted for one single day in their effort to accomplish that purpose. They have changed their methods of procedure as frequently as the exigency demanded but the one purpose has been ever before them. The court records of Salt Lake City reveal the persistent effort of the Mormons to rid themselves of the authority of our government. These records were printed and given to the public at the time of the Smoot investigation. After hearing the startling testimony of many witnesses Judge Anderson returned the following findings in reference to the claims of the Mormon Church

Having compiled this short history of the Mormon Church and Kingdom which shows from their own works that Smith was ordained a king, that said kingdom was to break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever. That Smith’s revelations instructed him to organize an army to work destruction, defeat the United States and establish his headquarters in Missouri, that he and his people worked to that end till he was shot while in the act of committing murder, and that his people to date believe that their kingdom is yet to triumph in the destruction of the United States and all other kingdoms, as shown by Smith’s prophecies. I leave the subject with you, asking that you ponder what my fate will be unless protected by the Almighty and his people. I thank God my eyes are opened and I feel called upon to let the world know something of the horrible thralldom from which I have been rescued. Thousands now feel that my sudden death would be a benediction to the Mormon church and that perhaps the time has come "That whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God’s service."

Having proved that both the original Mormon church and the Reorganized Mormon church both teach that God revealed to them that Zion was to be organized in Independence, Missouri, that was to be the only place of safety from pestilence and war, the place where Christ should come, it remains for me to prove that the present head of the Church, still believes and teaches that Zion must yet be established to make ready for the destruction of the United States, and coming of Christ. I submit his latest prophecy of the soon approach of the destruction of the United States, as prophesied by his grandfather, Joseph Smith.

"I wonder how long it will be till we have Zion, my concern has been intensified of late. Forces are at work which threaten our government and the men at Washington know this well, discord and chaos are liable to break out over night and the institutions upon which we lean for our safeguard may crumble, and our protection be weakened, I wish I could tell you some of the things I feel I know; and the great concern that has stirred me at times is, when that time of chaos comes will this people be prepared to furnish the place of safety God has intended that we should." F. M. Smith, Herald, March 3rd, 1920, page 193.

CHAPTER VIII.