Tag: Joseph Smith

The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Six

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 6 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Chapter Six

How Can Zion Be Established Today?

For the average member today the building of the New Jerusalem seems far away and when we speak of the literal gathering of Israel this is what his mind reflects on. It is an amazing thing the commandment to gather the Saints saturates the scriptures more than any other doctrine, yet it is the most greatly ignored. It is truly the irony of the age. Still the leaders today must find some way to rationalize away the fact that they are not keeping this commandment which is so important that the earth would be “utterly wasted” without it.

In the scriptures when the Lord talks about Zion he speaks of coming “out of Babylon” but today when Zion is spoken of… what comes to mind? Let us quote Spencer W. Kimball: “As we speak of Zion, WE THINK OF THE WORLD, since this has become a worldwide church.” (Taken from Stockholm Area Conference Report, Page 5 Reprinted in 1979 Church History Sunday School Manual – MY KINGDOM, page 163)).

The authorities dare not come straight out and declare that we no longer believe in the literal gathering of Israel, for this would upset too many people. A much better idea is to change the meaning of the literal gathering of Israel. Today President Kimball equates Zion with the world so the members can live anywhere On the earth and still be literally gathered. This broad interpretation is nice and comfortable; for it erases all responsibility to live in harmony with the scriptures we have been given.

Bruce R. McConkie gives us a very comfortable definition of the gathering of Israel: “The gathering of Israel consists of joining the true church; of coming to a knowledge of the true God and of his saving truths; and of worshipping him in the congregations of the Saints IN ALL NATIONS AND AMONG ALL PEOPLES.” (Mexico City Area Conference August 1972)

According to this nebulous definition you can be “among” any other group of people and still be gathered. That may be a metaphysical gathering of sorts, but only the most foolish of the “workmen” could call it a literal gathering. When I used to discuss faith and works with individuals of different religions I thought that their definitions of “salvation” and “faith” was quite nebulous, but I must now admit that the current Latter-Day belief on a literal gathering takes the cake. I have come to understand the warning that if we are not faithful that we will lose the little we have. We have lost the entire concept which is the springboard to the kingdom of God… The literal gathering of Israel.

When one reads the scriptures and sees plainly that the commandment to literally gather is not being obeyed today one may find himself in somewhat of a dilemma. How can one literally gather when the Church does not even believe in it at present? Do LDS people even have authority to gather together without the sanction of the church? If then, the brethren are astray, are members therefore released from responsibility because it was originally placed upon the brethren?

Let us put it this way. Moroni said that if the promises (the gathering) made to the fathers is not planted “in the hearts of the children (you and me)… the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” D&C 2:2-3 If you knew that the earth would be wasted if this commandment is not lived do you suppose that God would be happy to see you placing all the responsibility upon others and doing nothing yourself? Since God cannot interfere with man’s free agency don’t you suppose he would be happy to see some of his children step forth and attempt to do his will? Doesn’t it seem logical that he would lend his support to such a righteous endeavor?

“But,” says one, “We have no authority to gather God would not be pleased if we attempted it!”

On the contrary, I ask where do you get such an idea? It is true that Joseph Smith had the keys of the gathering of Israel delivered to him, but where does it say that you have to have the keys to be obedient to a commandment of God.

O ye of little faith! Can you not consider the words of Nephi that “the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” I Nephi 3:7. Has not the Lord commanded the literal gathering of Israel? If he has then has not the way been prepared?

The best way to figure out what to do in a certain circumstance in the present is to examine a similar circumstance in the past and see there how the prophets handled the situation. Thus if we proceed on our present circumstance according to the same pattern that God inspired in a similar circumstance in the past, then we will not go astray or be out of order.

When the Kingdom went astray in the days of Saul and Saul was the “anointed of the Lord” what did David do? He gathered out the righteous from among them and prepared for the day when the Lord’s house would be set in order.

When the kingdom was astray in the days of wicked King Noah what did Alma do when he was converted by the testimony of Abinidi? Did he wait around for King Noah, who was supposed to hold the keys of power in that area, to tell him what to do? No! If he did that he would still be waiting. Instead he received personal revelation to teach the righteous among them and then gather them out for the Lord had told his people that except they repent he “will lead away the righteous from among you.” Jacob 3:4.

In the days of the restoration of the Gospel there were several groups of people who had received revelation that the Lord was going to do a great work and they gathered together to prepare for such an event and they were in no way held under any condemnation. In one such instance Wilford Woodruff received a revelation to go and visit one such group of three hundred individuals and all of them save one accepted his message. All of the leaders acknowledged the hand of God in preparing groups such as these and not even the least of the saints considered them out of order because they did not have the keys.

But on the other hand, in a sense, they did have the keys as they are defined in the doctrine and covenants: “And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This therefore, is the sealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom, WHICH CONSISTS IN THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.” D&C 128:14

Isn’t this interesting? In a sense the keys of the kingdom consists of “the key of knowledge.” This is why that even though the Jews had the right to the keys of the kingdom by ordination they had lost the “key of knowledge.” which key of knowledge John the Baptist had. Joseph Smith said that this was why John the Baptist was considered the greatest prophet – because he “wrested the KEYS, the kingdom, power, the glory FROM THE JEWS.” TPJS Pg 276 Why was John able to take the keys away from the Jews? Because he had the keys of knowledge.

When Joseph Smith imparted knowledge as to how to detect a true Spirit he said: “These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.” D&C 129:9 These “grand keys” consisted of knowledge only.

The only keys we have on record that Alma possessed is that he received knowledge or keys by revelation from God that enabled him to gather out the righteous.

Do we not have the key of knowledge of the literal gathering of Israel given to us by God today by revelation? God has appointed to us areas which will be places of refuge and this knowledge in itself is a “key” to survival. Can there then be any condemnation in gathering together in places that the Lord has appointed and being as the faithful workmen and building the strange structures the Master Builder has commanded, which structures are symbolic of the gathering places of the Lord. If we are then faithful workmen we will be blessed by our Lord and if a literal ordination of some kind is needed he will then take away the talent from the unfaithful servant and give it unto him who was faithful.

A question now naturally arises: “How are we to gather today? Circumstances are much different now than in the days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. It was practical then to gather together, but not today.”

This may be what the authorities today would have you believe, but it is not true. In many ways it was just as impractical from the standpoint of the world to gather in the days of Joseph as it is today. We forget that this was the main reason the world fought against the Saints of that day. In that time the saints gathered by selling all they had and buying new lands all in the same area and built cities to the Lord. Many had to leave their homes and travel thousands of miles to Nauvoo and later to Salt Lake, and their transportation was not nearly as convenient as it is today. How then can you say that it was more practical in the days of Joseph Smith? How can one say this when many groups are successfully gathering today? The Amish, the Mennonites, and many Indian tribes are successfully gathered today, not to mention the gathering of millions of Jews in Israel. With all of this evidence in view how can the saints claim that it cannot be done today? In actuality the gathering of the saints in the early days was as much of an anomaly as it would be today. The whole world wondered at them at that day and they would wonder anew at a gathering today.

The big question is how are we to gather today when there is no place to flee to? Again that is answered from the scriptures: “Verily, thus saith the Lord, I say unto you, if those who call themselves by my name and are essaying to be my saints, if they will DO MY WILL AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS CONCERNING THEM, LET THEM GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER UNTO THE PLACES WHICH I SHALL APPOINT UNTO THEM BY MY SERVANT JOSEPH (And others) AND BUILD UP CITIES UNTO MY NAME,. that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come.” D&C 125:2

As mentioned earlier these cities were to be called stakes and were to reach a population of from 15-20,000 and were to be presided over temporally by a stake Bishop. In the meeting in which the city of Nauvoo was contemplated and presided over by Joseph Smith they “wanted to know the views of the brethren, whether they wished to appoint this a stake of Zion or not; stating that he believed it to be a good place, and suited for the saints. It was then unanimously agreed upon that it should be appointed a stake and A PLACE OF GATHERING FOR THE SAINTS.” DHC 4:12

One will notice as he reads church history that the early stakes were appointed when there were virtually no saints living there yet. Today this process has been reversed whereas there has to be several thousand saints living in an area before the stake is created. This would not be done if the saints realized exactly what a stake is. A stake as taught by Joseph Smith is created by marking off a section of land for the building of a city of Zion by the gathering of the Saints. When the stake is designated it may at that time have zero inhabitants as Salt Lake Stake did, but from that time forth the Saints were to gather upon it until such time as it reaches a maximum population of 20,000. When this population limit is reached the excess leave and plot out another stake and gather there.

This is what the Lord was referring to when he said: “And behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work of the gathering of my saints Until the day cometh WHEN THERE IS FOUND NO MORE ROOM FOR THEM; and then I have OTHER PLACES which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called STAKES, for the curtains or the strength of Zion. Behold it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, Should gather together and STAND IN HOLY PLACES.” D&C 101:20-22

God is commanding here as clear as the word can be to physically (not metaphysically as is taught today) gather together on Holy Places which are the Stakes of Zion. We are to create the first stake and when there is found no more room, or in other words, the population limit is reached, then the Lord will have us gather in other stakes. Stakes were not designed to be congregations of Saints blended in and living with Babylon, but Stakes were designed to be the method by which the Saints were to “come out of Babylon.” The stakes are to be for the “curtains or the strength of Zion.”

Heber C. Kimball said: “We have witnessed the flowing of the saints towards Zion; the stream has begun, and we expect to see it continue running until it shall have DRAINED THE SALT. OR THE LIGHT FROM BABYLON.” DHC 4:132 Thus the salt, the light, or the wheat is to be separated from the tares and gathered into barns (or stakes) whereas the wicked are bound in bundles to be burned. We are to gather upon a land “upon which there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh; and I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts.” D&C 38:18- 19. Where is there a land today that the Saints possess upon which there is no curse? There is none because we have not obeyed the commandment to gather the saints. The Lord’s advice to the Saints after they were expelled from Jackson County is still applicable today: “Carefully gather together, AS MUCH IN ONE REGION AS CAN BE, consistently with the feelings of the people. And behold I will give unto you favor and grace in their eyes, that you may rest in peace and safety, while you are saying unto the people: Execute judgment and justice for us according to the law, and redress us of our wrongs. Now, behold, I say unto you, my friends, in this way you may find favor in the eyes of the people, until the army of Israel becomes very great.” D&C 105;24-26

This was the advice the saints tried to follow after they were expelled; however, we must admit that their gathering places were not always consistent with the feelings of the people, for Babylon has no love for the saints.

If then, we are to obey the commandment to gather what are we to do? Can the commandment be obeyed today? The answer is solidly yes.  There is no law of the church, the scriptures or man that prohibits any group from buying lands and gathering upon them.  And since all are entitled to revelation all one has to do is to get an inner confirmation through payer that the gathering place is approve by the Spirit.

New places of refuge will be created until the central stake in Missouri can be redeemed. Today it is just as practical to buy “lands and gathering together upon them” and build cities to the name of the Lord as it was in the days of Joseph Smith. All that needs done is to find a group of people favorable to the idea. Once new cities or stakes are brought into existence there will be at last places of safety for the saints of the Most High God.

The Lord will bless these stakes or cities with an abundance of wealth so that the saints can gather up the wheat of the world and then when the desolation and the famine hits and wheat becomes worth its weight in gold the Saints will then be given dominion and people will be converted to the cause of Zion by the multitudes, and “they who have laughed will see their folly.” All of this was in Joseph Smith’s mind as evidenced in the words of Brigham Young while Joseph was yet alive: “Yet he (Joseph) will lay a plan to speculate as large as ancient Joseph did; he will have power to buy up all the rest of the world.” DHC 6:16

 

The time will come when the dollar will collapse and their will be famines and great tribulation and since we know these things in advance we have a chance to prepare as ancient Joseph did for when the famine came in his day he was given power over all his enemies because he had seven years supply of food. It is interesting to note that almost every story in the old Testament is a type or symbol of events which will transpire in the latter-days and the story of Joseph of Egypt will be repeated on a grand scale.

This final gathering is prophesied of in the scriptures: “Turn O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you ONE OF A CITY AND TWO OF A FAMILY, and will bring you unto Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jer 3:14-15 The Saints are so blinded by the craftiness of men today that very few will see the light and gather to places of refuge.

The gathering will not be for the members of the Church of Jesus Christ only, but for all lovers of freedom for all true lovers of freedom have the laws of God written in their hearts. Joseph Smith invited “all lovers of truth and correct principles to gather as well as the saints.” DHC 4:178. This type of people will be the inhabitants of the kingdom of God for the kingdom of God does not belong to any one church, but the saints of God will bring the kingdom.

Today numerous small groups are attempting to gather, some of them motivated by the Holy Ghost, but Joseph Smith said the gathering “has to be done by the council of Jehovah, by the revelations of heaven.” DHC 5:65. One of the reasons the gathering has to be done by the revelations of heaven is that great tribulation is going to be poured out and the only way to gain a knowledge of the safe locations is by revelation. Also, it will take the spirit of revelation and the approval of God to cause the Holy Ghost to motivate a large enough group of people to make the gathering successful.

Through the still small voice we have learned that the parable of the leaven will be fulfilled: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” Matt 13:33.  Joseph Smith said that the parable referred to the last days when there would be little faith upon the earth. These people with this little faith are the leaven that will leaven the whole loaf after the period of tribulation. The grain which is to be leavened is the wheat which will be separated from the tares through the gathering of Israel.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Four

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 4 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Author’s note: Some are saying this treatise on the gathering does not sound like me and this may be true as I wrote this back in 1979 when my thinking was focused on religious lines.  I was attempting to wake the LDS up to the fact that if the writings of the prophets are true then all is not well within their kingdom.

As always I recommend the reader study this treatise in the light of the soul.  Accept that which registers as being true and ignore the rest.

 

 

Chapter Four

Zion, The Pure in Heart

The actual meaning of Zion is -probably misunderstood more than any other by the latter-Day Saints, partially due to the misunderstanding of the following scripture: “Let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion –  THE PURE IN HEART.” D&C 97:21

If all of a person’s accumulated knowledge of the scriptures concerning Zion can be summed up in that sentence then we may be assured that such a narrow viewpoint will lead to erroneous conclusions. And what erroneous conclusion does it lead to? The Latter-Day Saint authorities conclude that the gathering is not necessary to establish Zion because if you are pure in heart you are already in Zion no matter where you are. Such individuals then believe that since they are in Zion, as they suppose, then they are safe no matter where they are as long as they follow the prophet.

The prophet will tell them what to do. In other words, they lean on the arm of flesh and do not depend on the Spirit. They feel that “all is well” with the authorities in the church, “and thus the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” II Nephi 28:21 1 can think of no more destructive doctrine to the kingdom of God than that its members thinking that they are in Zion no matter where they are and that God will protect them. On the contrary, we find that the righteous must be separated according to the parable of the wheat and the tares for if the wheat is mixed with the tares during the burning then it will be burned also. “And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh AN ENTIRE SEPARATION of the righteous and the wicked.” D&C 63:54

This entire separation has to take place for “the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion. And also the Lord shall have power over his saints.” D&C 1:36-37

If the devil has power over his dominion and you are residing in that dominion then where will your physical salvation be? The adversary will have such power over his own dominion that he will command all to worship an image and “as many as would not worship the image of the beast SHOULD BE KILLED. And he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: AND THAT NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL, save he that had the mark.” Rev. 13:15-17 If you think you are pure in heart and will be safe even though you are dwelling within Satan’s dominion you will have a chance to test that purity when you are commanded to worship the image of the beast or be killed. You will also be tested when you are commanded to receive the mark of the beast which will signify that you belong to him and not God. Without this mark you and your family will not be able to buy or sell, and just how long do you suppose you could stomach seeing your little ones going hungry before you would give in?

The prophet Joseph saw a vision wherein he saw the events in the devil’s dominion: he saw “the father shed the blood of the son and the son the blood of the father; the mother put to death the daughter, and the daughter the mother; and natural affection forsook the hearts of the wicked; for he saw that the Spirit of God should be withdrawn from the inhabitants of the earth, in consequence of which there should be blood upon the face of the whole earth EXCEPT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE MOST HIGH. The prophet gazed upon the scene his vision presented, until his heart sickened, and he besought the Lord to close it up again.” Jedediah M. Grant, THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, Feb 1915, Pg 286-7.

Orson Pratt said that during this time “there will be too much bloodshed – too much mobocracy – too much going forth in bands and destroying and pillaging the land to suffer people to pursue any local vocation with any degree of safety.” JD 20:151 Elder Pratt also said: “The people will think themselves well off if they can FLEE FROM CITY TO CITY, FROM TOWN TO TOWN AND ESCAPE WITH THEIR LIVES.” JD 12:344

In speaking of the devil’s dominion Brigham Young said: “They will destroy each other, caring not for the blood and lives of their neighbors, or their families, or for their own lives. They will be like the Jaredites…and will destroy each other to the last man, through the anger that the devil will place in their hearts, BECAUSE THEY REJECTED THE WORDS OF LIFE.” (They rejected the gathering principle Which would save their physical lives.) JD 8:123

It is this day that Joel speaks of when he says: “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be DELIVERED: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the REMNANT WHOM THE LORD SHALL CALL.” Joel 2:32 Yes, those who do not reject the “words of life” and call on the name of the Lord in Mount Zion will be physically delivered, but unfortunately, many of the non LDS will be more likely to deliver their lives than the members of the church who put their trust in the arm of flesh.

Tell me my brother… you who believe that you are pure in heart enough to be saved no matter where you are: Is your faith strong enough to live in a community where people care not “for the blood and lives of their neighbors, or their families, or their own lives. They will be like the Jaradites.” Read the story of the Jaradites during the last battles. Would you like to go through something like that? Wouldn’t it be better to obey the law of the gathering as written by the prophets?

Just as we are told that Satan will have power over his dominion we are also told that the Lord will have power over the dominion of the saints in the last days. If the Lord has dominion over his saints then that must mean that the saints are out of reach of the power of the enemy and that they will be a physically separate body. Speaking of this time Joseph Smith was quoted as saying: “Many will come with bundles under their arms to escape the calamities, and there will be no escape except by fleeing to Zion. Those that come to you will try to keep the laws and be one with you, for they will see your unity and the greatness of your organization… During this time the Great White Horse will have gathered strength sending out Elders to gather the honest in heart among the pale horse, or the people of the United States, to stand by the constitution of the United States, as it was given by inspiration of God. In these days God will set up a kingdom, never to be thrown down, for other kingdoms to come unto.” Taken from the White Horse Prophecy, quoted by Edwin Rushton and Theodore Turley.

The official doctrine of the church today is that the church itself is the kingdom spoken of by Daniel, but here Joseph tells us that the kingdom will be set up in the days of this second gathering, and that the kingdom will not be a church, but it will be a government patterned after the original constitution of the United States.

In speaking of Zion it is written: “And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs FLEE TO ZION FOR SAFETY. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.” D&C 45: 68-69

Tell me you who believe you are pure in heart, even though you dwell in Los Angeles, New York, or any other city… How is it that you now dwell in Zion when we are told that to get there you must “flee?” How do you explain the scripture: “Let them, therefore, that are among the Gentiles FLEE -unto Zion.” D&C 133:12 How are you obeying the commandment to “declare by word and by FLIGHT that desolation shall come upon the wicked?” D&C 63:37

Did not the Lord command us: “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them SHALL ALL BE FULFILLED.” D&C 1:37. Did not Jesus reprimand his own disciples after his resurrection by saying: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.” Luke 24:25

We are told Often in the scriptures that Zion has to be “established”. If Zion is merely the pure in heart scattered around the world then why does it need to be “established”? There are always a number of people who are fairly pure in heart scattered abroad. We are told to “buy lands and gather together upon them; and in this way they may ESTABLISH ZION.” D&C 101:74 Do you make people pure in heart by buying lands??? No, but you can create a physical Zion on them where there will be a refuge from the storm. If all there is to Zion is the pure in heart scattered throughout the world then Zion has always been here, even before the church was organized, for there have always been some relatively pure in heart people upon the earth. The scriptures make it clear that Zion has not always been here: “For they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring AGAIN Zion.” III Nephi 16:18. If all Zion is, is the pure in heart, and there is always a few pure in heart scattered around, then why will the Lord “bring again Zion?” Is it not obvious that Zion is a condition or place that has to be created and is not always here?

Unfortunately, many people both within the church and out believe that they are pure in heart enough so that they will be miraculously taken up and snatched away to safety if they are in the midst of tribulation. But please, my brother, seriously ask yourself if this is realistic. After all, the Lord “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Did the Lord miraculously snatch away the righteous in the days of Noah or did they have to physically remove themselves? Did the Lord miraculously rapture the people who were righteous in Sodom and Gomorra or, again, did they have to physically remove themselves? How about Lehi? Were he and his family removed like men in a Star Trek movie or was it the normal physical method of his day? How about our own day? Were not the righteous bombed along with the wicked in our recent wars?

“But God will save us if we keep all the commandments,” says One. That is true, but remember he is referring to the commandments of God and not men, and one of the commandments is to “gather” and “go out of Babylon.” If you are not obeying this commandment how then do you expect to receive protection?

The Lord tells us bow much faith we need to have if we expect to survive among a people who are not obeying all of the commandments. “Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, THEY SHALL ALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS; THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED but the land shall be desolate.” Eze 14:13-16.

Thus, if you expect to be saved in the midst of fury you must have the faith of a Noah, a Daniel or a Job. Do you have as much faith as they did? Are you one out of a billion like they were? In their day each was the most faithful man on the whole planet. Are you the most faithful person on the planet now? Even if you are the scripture tells us that even with your great faith you will not be able to save your family “neither sons nor daughters.”

Where then is the hope for the average saint? Are we doomed to destruction in these last days? No. We are told that this would be the situation if these three men “were in it,” or, in other words, this would be the situation if these three men stayed in Babylon. One would have to have faith like unto them if he wished to survive the desolations that will be poured out. The hope then for the average saint is to “come out of Babylon” for Ezekiel tells us that the way will be prepared to deliver sons and daughters: “Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be BROUGHT FORTH (or in other words gathered out), both sons and daughters.” Ezekiel 14:22.

The Lord has said that if the promises made to the fathers is not planted in the hearts of the children then “the earth will be utterly wasted at his coming.” Yes, the whole earth would be utterly wasted except for men like Noah, Daniel and Job and how many men such as this do you suppose we have on the earth today? They could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand and what good would their salvation be without their families? When reflecting on the wisdom of the gathering the pure in heart will feel hope and faith and praise for the Lord for preparing the way for our future deliverance along with our families. The spirit leads one to exclaim: “How great are thy ways and how unfathomable is the intent of thy heart, O Father, Thou carest for thy children as a true loving father and savest all that come unto thee and sends servants to those who are lost and in peril! Thou art truly the deliverer of Israel.”

When we consider that Zion is an actual place and condition that needs to be established one may be led to question as to why the Lord called Zion the “Pure in heart.” Can Zion be the pure in heart and yet the scriptures be consistent? Yes, for the scriptures tell us who the pure in heart are by giving us another definition of Zion. After Enoch gathered his people we are told: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart, and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them… And it came to pass in his days, that he built a CITY that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.” Moses 7:18- 19

What had to take place here before the Lord called his people Zion? We find that the people were (1) of one heart, (2) and one mind, (3) they “dwelt in righteousness; (4) There was no poor among them, and (5) they gathered together and built a city unto the Lord and the wicked did not come unto it.

This then gives us a good idea of what the Lord means by the “pure in heart”. If one is pure in heart he will not love the world but will want to come out of Babylon and be united with others of like thinking and build communities unto the glory of God. He will be of one heart and one mind with these other righteous individuals. He will dwell in righteousness and consecrate all that he has so that there will be “no poor”. One cannot be one of the pure in heart that dwells in Zion while he is in Babylon. The pure in heart desire to gather with the saints and will do so at the first opportunity. At this point many people are inclined to say: “But doesn’t the scriptures command us to be in the world but not of the world? Therefore we do not need to gather for we are supposed to be in the world at this time.”

The person who uses this quote is like the guy who quotes the Bible as saying that “all men are created equal”. Neither quotation is found anywhere in the scriptures. Nowhere in all the holy writ are we commanded to be in the world, but, on the contrary, we are commanded to “come out”. The only ones that are to be sent out into the world at all are those who are to preach the gospel and they are commanded to be “not of the world”. John 17:16 On the other hand, many sectarians teach from the pulpit to be in the world, but not of the world. However, the motto of Zion should be: “Come out of the world that ye be not of the world that ye be not partakers of her ‘sins.”

Joseph Smith clearly told us that “the whole of America is Zion.” He said this included North and South America and that the mountain of the Lord was to be in the center of the land. (See DHC 6:319) Brigham Young also said- that Zion “is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph, and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. JD 2:253

Hyrum Smith told us “The gathering will be FROM THE NATIONS to North and South America which is the land of Zion.” DHC 6:322

Of course we cannot gather to all of North and South America all at one time. Joseph Smith told us to begin this gathering by building stakes or cities of about twenty thousand population each until we fill up the land of Zion and then the world. Right now the land of Zion is possessed by the people of Babylon, but one day Babylon the great will fall and Zion will be redeemed for the people of Zion. Then it will come to pass: “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west.” Isa 59:19. When the center stake or city is established then shall the following scripture be fulfilled: “They shall call thee the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” Isa 60:14 “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities.” Isa 33:20.

The scriptures indicate that there is more than one city in Zion: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My CITIES through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” Zech 1:17 When the land of America is full then the Lord’s cities will “spread abroad” and fill up the earth as Joseph Smith predicted.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Three

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 3 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Chapter Three

Was The Gathering Of Israel Suspended?

Those few who do yet believe in a literal gathering of Israel often state that the gathering process is-suspended until we go back to Jackson County. Then they believe we will go back there and again have a great gathering.

The gathering of Israel and the establishment of Zion was paramount on the minds of the early church. The Lord has made it clear that we should not cease in this endeavor: “Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me con­cerning ALL the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation,. That the work of the gathering of my, saints MAY CONTINUE, that I build them up unto my name upon HOLY PLACES, for the TIME OF THE HARVEST IS COME, and my word must needs be fulfilled. Therefore, I MUST GATHER TOGETHER MY PEOPLE, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory…While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire. Therefore, a commandment I give unto ALL the churches, that THEY SHALL CONTINUE TO GATHER TOGETHER unto the places which I have appointed… if they will hearken unto this counsel they may buy lands and gather together upon them; and in this way they may establish Zion.” D&C 101: 63-67, 74

Here we are clearly told that the gathering was to continue and nowhere in the scriptures are we commanded to cease gathering, instead the First Presidency announced in the days of Joseph Smith: “The work of the gathering spoken of in the scriptures WILL BE NECESSARY to bring about the glories of the last dispensation.” DHC 4:186.

In the days of Joseph F. Smith an announcement was made that it was no longer necessary for the saints to gather, but was it done by revelation? If it was done by revelation then it had to be a “Secret” revelation and today the church openly condemns secret revelations as being a sure mark of the devil, yet the church is claimed to be run by revelation and apparently all of them are secret. Thus the church leaders are condemning themselves when they condemn such secret revelations,

Joseph F. Smith was not the first individual to try and stop the work of God in gathering his People for the gathering was one of the main causes of persecution, for most of the persecution came before polygamy was introduced.. And why were they persecuted for gathering? Because when the saints gathered together they formed a medium of power for good and they began talking about the glories of the Kingdom and how Zion would eventually rule the world and such talk put great fears in the hearts of their neighbors for their neighbors feared that they may eventually be ruled over by those “tyrannical” Mormons and thus they tried to destroy them.

When the saints gathered in Ohio they were persecuted, and when they gathered in Missouri and tried to build Zion they were mobbed and Bogg’s famous extermination order was issued. When they were ordered to leave Missouri they were told to scatter abroad – that if they dispersed then no one would bother them and they could live their religion without persecution. This seemed like good advice for them, and some followed this and taught others the same. Hyrum Smith spoke in a general conference on this subject and “made remarks disapproving the course pursued by some elders in counteracting the efforts of the presidency to gather the saints, and in enticing them to stop in places not appointed for the gathering.” DHC 4:424

Unfortunately this spirit of enticing of the saints “to stop in places not appointed for the gathering” has spread to the first presidency of the church and the sheep have followed the shepherds. Today they have told all the saints to stay in their native lands for their native countries are appointed for gathering places, yet the saints in Mexico do not gather in Mexico and the saints in Brazil do not gather in Brazil for there is no gathering places appointed for the members of the church anywhere on the earth. Today there are only figurative gatherings,and no literal ones.

On the contrary Brigham Young said: “Recollect that we are now calling upon the Elders to go and gather up Israel; THIS IS THE MISSION THAT IS GIVEN TO US. It was the first mission given to the Elders in the days of Joseph. The set time is come for God to gather Israel, and for his work to commence upon the face of the whole earth, and the Elders who have arisen in this Church and Kingdom are actually of Israel.” JD 2:268. The Lord said: “I must gather together my people according to the parable of the wheat and the tares.” D&C 101 :65 In the parable of the wheat and the tares the Lord did not instruct his servants to gather the wheat for a while and then throw it back in with the tares, yet this is what the shepherds have done in saying that a literal gathering is no longer necessary, but the Lord said: “And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.” Joseph Smith 1:27

This gathering began with Joseph Smith and the Lord instructed its continuance and he condemns those servants who do not obey the principle of gathering as “hypocrites” (verse 54). The Lord also said: “But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been BROKEN UP, but would have been ready.” Joseph Smith 1:47. Have the shepherds of Israel allowed the house of Israel to again be broken up even after a gathering had begun? Yes. The prophecy is fulfilled and Israel is not gathered today, but broken up. The Lord continues: “Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh, shall find so doing (Gathering Israel and building Zion); verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My Lord delayeth his coming (That is be delays the building of Zion to some future date and we do not have to worry about it now. Build up Zion wherever you are). And he shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, (This is done today by excommunicating the pure in heart), and to eat and drink with the drunken. (Since Israel is not gathered today then they “eat and drink with the drunken). Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, AND SHALL CUT HIM ASUNDER, AND SHALL APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE HYPOCRITS,” Joseph Smith 1:50-54 (Compare Matt 24)

The general feeling in the church today regarding this scripture is that it applies mainly to the lowly member and home teacher for surely the authorities are being as the wise servant. But NO! The evil servant one who has power enough to allow the Lord’s whole house to be “broken and the lowly member and home teacher has not this power. The evil servant was one, who was supposed to have care for the Lord’s house, one in high authority. The faithful servant is represented by those who do not give up on the gathering and building of Zion.

The evil servants are also referred to in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord compared the gathering Of Israel to a tower and after He commanded its construction “They began to say among themselves: And what need hath my Lord of this tower? And consulted for a long time saying among themselves: What need hath my Lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace? (That is persecution has subsided so why gather. It is no longer necessary) Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things. (After all it costs money to gather together and build cities) And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not to the commandments of the Lord. And the enemy came by night and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were afrightened and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees. Now behold, the nobleman, the Lord of the vineyard called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil? Ought YE NOT TO HAVE DONE EVEN AS I COMMANDED YOU, and after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof – built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, AND NOT FALLEN ASLEEP, lest the enemy should come upon you? And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy While HE WAS YET FAR OFF; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.” D&C 101:47-54 Then the Lord tells us he will call a faithful servant to fulfill his will which would be accomplished “after many days”. Verse 62 Then the He speaks clearly a few verses later and said: “They shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed.” Verse 7.

One might ask how would the gathering enable us to “have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off?” Verse 54 The reason he would have been seen while he was yet afar off is because the gathering always draws opposition and the enemy would have continued to show himself while he was yet weak or afar off. If the gathering had continued then the Church would be prepared for the enemy today. As it is, with the dissolution of the gathering, the Church does not draw the evil men to oppose them. They appear as friends and the saints eat and drink with the drunken and cannot see the enemy afar off; yea, they cannot see him until it is too late.

Oh, how great is the wisdom of God in commanding his people to gather, yet how great is the folly of man in neglecting this principle because they see no need. Is it not clear that the gathering of Israel is one of the main promises made to the fathers and without it “the earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” D&C 2:3. Nephi elaborates somewhat on this principle “For thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it MEANETH US IN THE DAYS TO COME, AND ALSO ALL OUR BRETHREN WHO ARE OF THE HOUSE, OF ISRAEL…

Therefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and THEY SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness.” I Nephi 22:6&12.

Jesus tells us when these promises are to be fulfilled: “When the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled… then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel. And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth BE GATHERED IN from the east and from the west and from the south and from the North; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God who hath redeemed them… And I will gather my people together as a man gathered his sheaves into the floor. For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people…” III Nephi 20: 11-13 &18-19

Concerning the gathering Jesus also said: he “will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer… And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and HARDEN NOT THEIR HEARTS; wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto ONE PLACE UPON THE FACE OF THIS LAND, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.” D&C 29:2, 7-8

Micah makes some interesting prophesies concerning the period when the final gathering will begin: “O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straightened? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly’? Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy (This could be referring to the people of the church when they abandoned the gathering). … Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because IT IS POLLUTED, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; (That is receiving revelations the world wants to hear) he shall even be the prophet of this people. (The people will have a false prophet) I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I WILL SURELY GATHER THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL; 1 will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men

“And I said, Hear I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the House of Israel (The General Authorities): Is it not for you to know judgment? (That is they should know how to make correct judgments.) Who hate the good, and love the evil… Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear them: he will even hide His face from them at that time, (What time? At the time the Lord Gathers out a remnant.), as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Thus Saith the, Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite their teeth, and cry, Peace; (The Knox version translates this: ‘All is well) and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. (This means that the person who does not go along with those who believe all is well in Zion and raise their voice in protest they, the Authorities prepare war against him.) Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall have not a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips: for there is no answer from God.” Micah 2:7-12; 3:1-7

LDS missionaries use this scripture to substantiate the great apostasy during the dark ages, but there are several facts to indicate that the prophesy pertains to our day and not the dark ages. First of all the church during the dark ages did not believe in prophets, seers and revelators, but here Micah talks about people who will actually claim to be such and will receive false revelations. Secondly, we are told that at the time of these false prophets the Lord “will surely gather the remnant of Israel”. There was no gathering during the dark ages.

Thirdly, Micah makes another prophecy which is to be fulfilled after this successful gathering: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And MANY NATIONS SHALL COME, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: FOR THE LAW SHALL GO FORTH OUT OF ZION, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:1-2. This famous quote, which is also found in Isaiah, is often used by the church to support the idea that the Church today has Zion established in the tops of the mountains in Utah, and to the casual observer it seems as if this is the logical fulfillment of the prophesy, but is it??? We are told that “the law shall go forth out of Zion”. Does the church have any dominion that they have power to give laws? The next verse says: “And he shall judge among many people, and REBUKE STRONG NATIONS AFAR OFF… And I will make her that halteth a remnant, (the true gathering of the Jews), and her that was CAST FAR OFF A STRONG NATION.” Micah 4:3 & 7. Who was cast afar off? It was the children of Lehi. When they are gathered in the Lord will make Zion a strong nation.

Does the church today have power “to rebuke strong nations afar off? Is the church today a strong nation? No. These prophecies are not yet fulfilled and it may shock some people to learn that the mountain of the Lord’s house is not in Utah among those beautiful mountains. Has not the Church been clearly told that Zion is to be established in Jackson County Missouri and that it is from this spot that the law will go forth that will govern the nations? Joseph Smith made this clear near the end of his life at a time that he was aware that the “Saints would go to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people.” He said: “The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south, and is described by the prophets, who declare that it is the Zion where the mountain of the Lord should be, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE CENTER OF THE LAND. When the Elders shall take up and examine the old prophesies in the Bible, they will see it.” DHC 6:318-319

If the Church accepts the revelations given through Joseph Smith then they must acknowledge that the mountain of the Lord’s house is not in the Rocky Mountains, but is in Missouri. It is from this place that strong nations will be rebuked and that the law will go forth and that other nations will come forth and want to be governed by the principles of freedom as outlined in the original constitution of the United States which was established “for the rights and protection of ALL flesh.” D&C 101:77

If this is so one might well ask then why the prophecy speaks about the Mountain of the Lord’s house in the tops of the mountains when there are few mountains in Missouri. There are several things to keep in mind here. First recall that the Lord often speaks of his holy mountain as being in Israel, yet there are no high mountains there. A good-sized hill is the highest thing you can find there. Secondly the Lord often refers to his people gathered together as his “holy Mountain” even if there are no mountains around. Thirdly, Missouri is in the center of a land filled with mountain ranges, and Forth, if you demand a literal interpretation we are told that the time will come “for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low.” D&C 49:23. Thus it would hardly do to establish the Central stake in Salt Lake for it would no longer be in the tops of the mountains when they are made low. On the other hand it is possible that the Lord will raise up a great mountain in the central stake in Missouri.

The Lord seemed to be aware that the gathering commenced by Joseph Smith would not be permanent as we have previously indicated by the parable of the servants abandoning the tower. The scriptures say: “Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this I will do when the cup of their iniquity is full. And in that day ALL who are found upon the watchtower, or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved. AND THEY THAT HAVE BEEN SCATTERED SHALL BE GATHERED.” D&C 101:11-13. This gathering spoken of here has to refer to a second gathering for the first had already started. This second successful gathering will take place when the Lord’s wrath is poured out upon the nations.

This second gathering was sensed by some of the early leaders. Brigham Young said: “God will preserve a PORTION OF’ THIS PEOPLE of the meek and humble, to bear off the kingdom to the inhabitants of the earth.” Contributor 10:362. Also Heber C. Kimball said: “But the time will come when the Lord will choose A PEOPLE OUT OF THIS PEOPLE upon whom he will bestow His choicest blessings.” Deseret News; Nov 9, 1865.

True saints look forward to the true literal gathering Of Israel. A  marvelous work and wonder will come forth, a work which shall be so great that the history books will teach that all that has gone on before us including the restoration of the gospel was only preparation for that which is to come. The work of the Lord through Joseph Smith, as great as it was, was only preparation for that which God will yet accomplish through the meek and humble of the earth.

John the Revelator prophesied of the great gathering, or the coming out of Babylon. He said: “And I heard another voice (rev elation) from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4 This revelation that John prophesied of was given to Joseph Smith November 3, 1831 wherein the Lord said: “Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.” D&C 133:14 Joseph Smith said that this commandment was given “that the people of the Lord MAY LIVE when Babylon the great is fallen.” DHC 4:9

How can one deny that the commandment to come out of Babylon is literal and is yet binding on the Latter-Day Saints? The Lord said: “Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and COME FORTH OUT OF THE FIRE, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh.” D&C 36:6.

Jesus also personally prophesied of the coming out of Babylon: “And then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye, GO YE OUT FROM THENCE, touch not that which is unclean; GO YE OUT OF THE MIDST OF HER. III Nephi 20:41

When Jacob was chastising his people he told them: “And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent… the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you.” Jacob 3:4 Is not this the principle that God has used in all ages? Will he not lead forth the righteous from the Latter-Day Saints today except they repent?

Jeremiah speaks extensively concerning the commandment to come out of Babylon: “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place… Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the North country: and they shall set themselves in array against her… Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver ever, man his soul… Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her that ‘have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem (That is the New Jerusalem) come into your mind.” Jer 50:6,8-9;.51:9,5

Again we are told: “The diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; THEY COMFORT IN VAIN… I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them… And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man… I will hiss for them, and gather them… I will bring them again also out of tile land of Egypt, (That is he will deliver us from oppressive laws and taxation), and gather them out of Assyria (That is the Lord will gather them from among the wicked); and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;” Zech 10:2,6,7 & 10

What does the Lord mean when he says he will bring them “into the land of Gilead and Lebanon”? If we apply the Hebrew meanings of the words we get an interesting interpretation. Gilead means “many witnesses” and Lebanon means “the center” so we could render it thus: “I will bring you to a land of which you have received many witnesses which is in the center”( of the country). Did not Joseph Smith say that Jackson County, Missouri is the “center” stake in the center of the land? Is not the consistency of all of the prophets amazing?

We must keep in mind here that many of the prophesies concerning Zion will commence in their fulfillment in the Rocky Mountains, but they will not bud forth in all of their glory until the center stake is established. The prophecy that Joseph made about the saints becoming a mighty people in the midst of the rocky mountains has not yet been fulfilled. The Mormon people are now a numerous people, but they are not mighty, but a mighty people will grow up out of their midst.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Two

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 2 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

 Chapter Two

Babylon – Spiritual Wickedness

Just why did God choose the name “Babylon” to describe spiritual wickedness in the last days? To find the answer to this question we must go back to the beginning of the original Babylon. We find that it was started by Nimrod, the mighty hunter and the great Anti-Christ of his day. (See Gen 10:10). The city of Babel, or Babylon was built in direct opposition to the will of the Lord for He wanted his people to scatter abroad all over the face of the earth and repopulate it after the flood, instead of congesting in one place. For one thing the Lord knew that a great congestion of the population always brings this spiritual wickedness. Because the people built the great city and the tower God had to confuse their language so they could be scattered all over the earth according to his will.

Joseph Smith taught this important principle of limitation. He taught that the great city Zion would “fill up the world,” but that each community or stake in that city would be limited to “fifteen to twenty thousand people”. DHC 1:358

It is obvious that cities below twenty thousand population have much less corruption than the large cities. All of the large cities today are filled with every kind of wickedness one can imagine thus the main concentration of spiritual wickedness in the world today is in the large cities. Thus when the Lord says: “Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her PLAGUES.” REV 18:4 He is telling the people to come out of the cities of the world for all of these large concentrations of people are Babylon or confusion in the sight of God.

Not only are the Large cities a part of Babylon but so also are the smaller ones, to a lesser degree, according to the amount of spiritual wickedness therein. The only places that are not a part of Babylon are those places appointed by the Lord. Concerning these gathering places the scriptures commanded: ”Those who call themselves by my name and are essaying to be my saints, if they will do my will and keep my commandments concerning them, let them GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER unto the places which I shall appoint unto them by my servant Joseph (or another servant), AND BUILD UP CITIES UNTO MY NAME, that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come.” D&C 125:2

Thus those who come out of Babylon are those who gather together and build up cities or stakes of Zion unto the Lord not exceeding twenty thousand. Salt Lake was once a city of Zion, but is no longer because of the spiritual wickedness there. It is as much a part of Babylon as any other city and there is no safety there at present.

Joseph Smith verified this doctrine. He said in speaking of Israel that the Lord would “Gather them from the coasts of the earth and as John heard the voice saying ‘Come Out Of her my people’ even so must all be fulfilled: that the PEOPLE OF THE LORD MAY LIVE when Babylon the great is fallen is fallen. There has been quite a number of families gathered up here already and we expect a continuance…” DHC 4:8-9 In speaking of the destruction of Babylon we find: “Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! FOR IN ONE HOUR IS THY JUDGEMENT COME. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; FOR NO MAN BUYETH THEIR MERCHANDISE ANY MORE… The merchants of these things WHICH WERE MADE RICH BY HER, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing… In ONE HOUR so great riches is come to nought… And they cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying what city is like unto this great city!… In one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou Heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for GOD HATH AVENGED YOU ON HER. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Rev 18:8-11, 15,17-21.

In reading this chapter many people think that Babylon is only one city since it was called a “great city” but we know that this cannot be the case since we are told that “in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of ALL THAT WERE SLAIN UPON THE EARTH.” Rev 18:24. No one city has even been in existence long enough to slay all the saints that have been on the earth, but “spiritual wickedness” has indeed slain all the saints that have been on the earth and where­ ever this spiritual wickedness reigns there we have Babylon. The Lord calls Babylon a city just as he calls Zion a city that will “fill the whole earth”. Actually the city Zion which will fill the whole earth in the eyes of man will be composed of many smaller cities. The same is true of the great city Babylon. Yet even taking this into consideration within each prophecy we have many types or shadows of reality. For instance the city Zion is often referred to as the center stake in Jackson County. The central gathering place for Zion is prophesied to be in Missouri and the United States as a whole. Even so, with the city Babylon we have a city and nation today which typifies its-existence. The City is New York City and the Nation is the United States.

Just as in the days of Peter Rome was called Babylon (I Peter 5:13) so also in our day is the great controlling city of New York is called Babylon. New York has several things in common with the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar. First it is the controlling financial city of the world. Second it is surrounded by water. Third, it is the melting pot of the nations. A conglomeration of all types of people always fills the city Babylon. In speaking of Babylon of our day Jeremiah exclaimed: “opulent city, standing beside great waters!” Jer 51:13 New English.

Concerning the city beside the great waters Ezekiel writes: “How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, WHICH WAS STRONG IN THE SEA, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure. For thus saith the Lord God; when I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall BRING UP THE DEEP UPON THEE, AND GREAT WATERS SHALL COVER THEE.” Ezekiel 26:17-19

This coincides with another prophecy of John Taylor when he said that the city of New York would someday be submerged under water.

Jeremiah also speaks of this event: “The sea is come upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves.” Jer 51:42

On the other hand, Jeremiah in the next verse indicates that there are other parts of Babylon that will not be covered with water: “Her CITIES are a desolation, A DRY LAND, and a wilderness, a land where no man dwelleth.” Jer 51:43

This clearly indicates that the main city of Babylon will be sunken under the sea whereas its other cities will become a desolation just as John Taylor saw in his vision.

In addition to the flooding Jeremiah gives us another cause of the desolation: “And a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye SHEPHERDS, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye PRINCIPAL (From the Hebrew ADDIYR which means the greatest of or the leading men) OF THE FLOCK: for the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds (the General Authorities) shall have no way to flee, nor the principal (the First Presidency) of the flock, to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard: for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture. (The pasture is Salt Lake City and others where the church is joined with Babylon) And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord.” Jer 25:32-37

We also have a strong indication that Babylon can refer to a certain country: in the last days: “For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon as assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken.” Jer 50:9

Obviously the nations that come against Babylon here could not be a part of Babylon so Babylon here could only refer to a nation or set of nations in the last days.

Since Babylon refers to “spiritual wickedness” then that nation which possesses this type of wickedness in the world today would be the Babylon that is prophesied. All nations possess wickedness, but they do not all have a great deal of “spiritual wickedness.” The greater the spiritual leanings are in a nation the greater the chance there is for spiritual wickedness for the greater the light the greater is the darkness of those who go against the light.

Not only is the United States the most religious nation on earth, as well as the headquarters of Mormonism but has a greater variety of spiritual teachers of every mold. It is indeed the prime candidate for being the modern Babylon, center of spiritual wickedness. It is not surprising that there are so many references in the scriptures to the apostasy of the shepherds of Israel in the last days.

There are many other indications that the nation Babylon is the United States* For instance we are told that “the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” Rev. 18:3 What other nation other than the United States makes the merchants of the earth rich?

The saints of God are commanded: “Come out of her my people.” Rev 18:4 We know that the majority of the Latter-Day Saints are in the United States.

Another indication is given in: “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” Rev 18:20.  Joseph and Hyrum Smith are among these.

Then too, sometimes Babylon refers to the nations of the world. “Go ye Out from among the nations, even from Babylon.” D&C 133:14 All of the nations possess a degree of spiritual wickedness, but the United States exceeds them all and all cities in the United States possess this same wickedness, but New York exceeds them all from a political standpoint and Salt Lake City exceeds them all from a religious standpoint.

A great warning was given by the Lord through Ezekiel to the Watchmen of Israel to warn them about sinning against the light: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, AND GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, TO SAVE HIS LIFE; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood WILL I REQUIRE AT THINE HAND. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” EZEKIEL 3:17-19

Do not the scriptures make clear that desolation can be our lot and that a warning voice needs to be sounded to save the actual physical lives of the saints? Is there a revelation anywhere that tells us to cease giving the warning voice? Yet where is the warning voice of the shepherds of Israel today telling us to come out of Babylon so we will not be caught in the cities and suffer as John Taylor saw in his vision? When the desolation comes the virgins who are not wise will ask why they were not warned and many members of the church will curse their leaders and then their God in their dying breaths while the wise virgins, the Saints who will gather “shall hardly escape”. D&C 63:34

Is it not clear from what has, been hitherto written that we in need of a “literal” gathering of Israel? That is that the Saints must literally gather to places of refuge to save their physical lives in the day of judgment. Is it not obvious that the church is not sounding the warning voice as commanded in the scriptures, thus the blood of those who perish will be required at the hands of the shepherds of Israel. There is a small handful who understand these things, and understanding the responsibility we must sound the warning no matter what sacrifice or cost that we have to pay,

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter One

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 1 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Intro:

I wrote this treatise back in 1979 when I was still strongly influenced by the mindset of the LDS church and its various writings. Since then many of my views have changed and my perspective broadened.  My later book – The Gathering of Lights more correctly reflects my current thinking and presentation and is written for the general populace.

This treatise has some excellent material and lots of good quotes for the LDS people.  It was written to speak to the LDS using their language and contains many wake up calls and provocative thinking for them to consider. Most important is it does present the true principle of the gathering using their own teachings.

 

THE LITERAL GATHERING OF ISRAEL

 BY

 J J. Dewey

 

Chapter One

The Literal and Figurative Gathering

 

The tenth article of faith reads: “We believe in the LITERAL gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built on this (the American) continent…

Does the Church still believe in this literal gathering of Israel? Is there a literal gathering in the Mormon church today, or is it a figurative gathering?

If there is a literal gathering in the church today then that would have to mean that all there is to the gathering of Israel is the gathering together in meetings and occasional conferences. But if this is so then how are the LDS gathering together any more than the Methodists or the Baptists? If The LDS believe in the “literal” gathering of Israel today then so also do all the other churches in Christendom. If Mormon belief on the gathering is the same as the other churches then why do they pretend that this belief sets them apart?

Actually, until the turn of the twentieth century, the Latter-Day Saints did believe in the literal gathering of Israel, but after a number of compromises, the church decided to cease and desist in its efforts to gather out of Babylon. From that point in time to the present the Saints have become like unto the world and most of the members of the church have become part of Babylon itself.

In speaking of Jesus in his day Joseph Smith said: “Jesus did everything to gather the people, and they would not be gathered, and he therefore poured out curses upon them.” DHC 5:423 Joseph also said: “The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is a gathering Spirit. Its tendency is to gather the virtuous and good, the honest and the meek of the earth, and in fine, the Saints of God.” DHC 6:12.

Yes, many are not aware that Jesus did everything possible to literally gather out the pure in heart in his day, but he had such little success that there is nothing recorded in the New Testament of any gathering at all except into meetings. Near the end of his life when he saw that his efforts were futile Jesus painfully declared: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often WOULD I HAVE GATHERED thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matt 23:37-38

Jesus talks about the same principle in our day and he even calls it a mystery which implies that the principle is not understood by the average member: “Therefore I will unfold unto them this great mystery; For behold I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, IF THEY WILL NOT HARDEN THEIR HEARTS.” D&C 10:64-65

It looks as if the saints must have hardened their hearts for there is no gathering of the righteous at all today. Jesus tried to gather the saints in Jerusalem and they “would not”, and he again tried to gather them in our dispensation and again they would not.

Concerning this “mystery” the Lord continues: “Behold this is my doctrine, whosoever repenteth and cometh (gathereth) unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore HE IS NOT OF MY CHURCH.” D&C 10:67-68. Thus even though a person may have a membership in the Church on the earth it is not written in heaven unless he possesses the spirit of gathering.

This is why the Lord calls those who do not possess this desire to gather non members. This is also verified in the Book of Mormon: “Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion (The gathering of Israel) both Jew, and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; FOR THEY ARE THEY WHO ARE THE WHORE OF ALL THE EARTH.  II Nephi 10:16. Many members of the church will fight against the establishment of Zion through the gathering of Israel and thus belong to that great and Abominable Church of the Devil for the Adversary desires the dispersion of Israel so that the wheat will be burned along with the tares. We are told that Satan through his secret combinations seeks “the destruction of ALL people.” Ether 8:25. Since the Gathering of Israel will provide a place of “refuge” which would thwart the Adversary’s plan of destruction he, of course, wants to fight against this principle with all of his power.

When Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith he said: “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES MADE TO THE FATHERS, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so THE WHOLE EARTH WOULD BE UTTERLY WASTED AT HIS COMING.” D&C 2:1-3.

Notice that Moroni said that the promises (plural) that were made to the fathers must be planted in the hearts of the children or the earth would be “utterly wasted”.

What are the promises made to the Fathers???

The church is, of course, aware of “one” of the promises, and that is the sealing powers, but a full concept of this is not taught. Joseph Smith said: “This is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven… We cannot be perfect without our fathers. WE MUST HAVE REVELATION FROM THEM.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith Page 338.

Thus we see that the redemption of the dead is only part of the spirit of Elijah. In addition to this we must be connected with them to the extent that we can receive revelation from them. Part of the redemption of the dead involves freeing our fathers in the Spirit World so they can communicate with us as promised.

Why do we need revelation from our Fathers? Because all of the Fathers in Israel who we read of in the scriptures sought the gathering of Israel and the redemption of Zion and found it not, therefore they are very interested in our accomplishing this today for they do not want to be resurrected on a planet that is “utterly wasted”.

Indeed the literal gathering of Israel is one of the promises made to the fathers and it must be planted in the hearts of the children by revelation or the earth could be wasted at the coming of Christ. Why will the earth be wasted if there is no gathering? Because the Lord said that the gathering was “for a defense and for a refuge from the storm.” D&C 115:6 For this reason he commanded the Saints: “Go ye out of Babylon, gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other… Let them, therefore, who are among the Gentiles flee unto Zion… “D&C 133:7&12 “Declare both by word and by FLIGHT that desolation shall come upon the wicked.” D&C 63:37 “I WILL NOT SPARE ANY THAT REMAIN IN BABYLON.” D&C 64:24

If God will not spare “ANY” that remain in Babylon and all the saints remain there and not gather to form Zion then obviously the earth will be “utterly wasted” at his coming for there would be no men left. Indeed the Lord has warned us: “For a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time to time, if they repent not (for not establishing Zion by gathering), UNTIL THE EARTH IS EMPTY and the inhabitants thereof are CONSUMED AWAY AND UTTERLY DESTROYED (or wasted) by the brightness of my coming.” D&C 5:19

Joseph Smith illustrates clearly that the sealing powers restored by Elijah and the gathering go hand in hand: “The keys are to be delivered, the Spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God GATHERED, ZION BUILT UP, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead and GATHER TOGETHER THEIR LIVING RELATIVES, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten, and the consumption decreed falls upon the world… If the Church should go to with their might to save their dead, seal their posterity and GATHER THEIR LIVING FRIENDS, and spend none of their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before the night would come, when no man could work; and my only trouble at the present time is CONCERNING OURSELVES,THAT THE SAINTS WILL BE DIVIDED, BROKEN UP, AND SCATTERED BEFORE WE GET OUR SALVATION SECURE; for there are so many fools in the world for the devil to operate on.” TOTPJS Pages 330- 331.

We see here that the gathering is necessary to secure our salvation. This is understandable when we consider that Joseph Smith said that “Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet.” These enemies he said referred to “this world”. TOTPJS Page 297. In other words it is impossible for the kingdom of God to triumph over its enemies in this world without the gathering of Israel and the establishment of Zion. ‘Without a knowledge of this “mystery” the kingdom of God cannot set up an “ensign” to the nations which will bring peace on the earth.

Before we continue we must successfully define what is meant by the “Literal gathering of Israel” even though the meaning should be as clear as crystal to anyone who has read the Doctrine and Covenants even once.

Unfortunately many Latter-Day Saints actually believe that the missionaries of today-are participating in the gathering of Israel. Many members also believe that they are gathering by simply meeting in wards and stakes. Others who understand what is meant by the “literal gathering of Israel” believe that the gathering was suspended for a time and is to be resumed when they go to Jackson County and that there we will have a literal gathering.

 

THE MISSIONARIES OF TODAY ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE LITERAL GATHERING OF ISRAEL.

Have you ever wondered why missionaries such as Wilford Woodruff were able to convert over three thousand people in several years of labor? Why is there not a missionary in the church today with the persuasive power of any of the early brethren? Is it because the missionaries of today lack charisma, or perhaps use the wrong brand of mouthwash? No. The reason is simply that today there is a different message with the most vital element deleted. That missing ingredient is the warning voice to all people to gather out from among the nations and come to Zion. Let the wheat be separated from the tares so the tares can be bound in bundles to be burned. Parley P. Pratt wrote his VOICE OF WARNING for this purpose. Also the Lord told us: “Behold, I sent you out to testify and to WARN this people…” D&C 88:81

Why were they to be warned? We are told a few verses later: “That their souls may escape the wrath of God, the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked.” D&C 88:85

To Sidney Rigdon the Lord commanded: “Let him lift up his voice with the sound of a trump, and WARN the inhabitants of the earth to FLEE THE WRATH TO COME.” D&C 124:106 “Let your preaching be a warning voice.” D&C 38:41 “Lift a WARNING voice to the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by FLIGHT that desolation shall come upon the wicked.” D&C 63:37 “This is a day of WARNING…,’ D&C 63:58. “Let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber because of thy speech.” D&C 112:5. We are told that the main purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants is to be a “Voice of warning… unto all people.” D&C 1:4

Where is the Warning voice today?

I am familiar with the last two editions of the missionary lessons and there is not one warning in either of them. The main theme of the current set is to testify of “living prophets.” However, the scriptures plainly tell us that any recognized prophet will warn the people of the wrath to come. Why are those proclaiming to be “special witnesses” not doing this? Why O why are the missionaries not sounding the warning voice when sudden destruction awaits us and the time is coming that even with a gathering the “inhabitants of the earth are burned, and FEW MEN LEFT.” Isa 24:6 thus making “a man more precious than fine gold.” Isa 13:12

In an interesting vision attributed to John Taylor on December 16, 1877 we find a description of some of the desolation we are to warn against:

 “I went to bed as usual about 9:30 P.M…. The next I knew I was just this side of Omaha. It seemed as though I was above the earth, and looking down upon it. As I -passed along upon my way east, I saw the road full of people, mostly women, with just what they could carry in bundles on their backs traveling to the mountains on foot.

“I wondered how they could get through with such a small pack on their back. It was remarkable to me that there were so FEW MEN AMONG THEM It did not seem as though the cars were running. The rails looked rusty and abandoned and I have no conception of how I traveled as I looked down upon the people. I continued east by way of Omaha and Council Bluffs which were full of disease. The states of Illinois and Missouri were in tumult. Men were killing one another and women joined in the fighting. Family were against family in the most horrid manner. I imagined next that I was in Washington and I found desolation there. The whole House was empty and the Halls of Congress the same and everything in ruins. The people seemed to have fled the city and left it to take care of itself. (This would undoubtedly include the Washington temple). I was next in Baltimore in the square where the monument of 1812 stands in front of the Charles Hotel. I saw dead piled up so as to fill the squares. I saw mothers cutting the throats of their own children for their blood. I saw them suck it from their throats to quench their own thirst, and then lie down and die. The waters of the Chesapeake Bay were so stagnant and the stench arising from it on account of their throwing dead bodies in it, so terrible that the very smell carried death with it. I saw no men except they were dead or dying on the streets and very few women. And those I saw were crazy and in an ugly condition.

“Everywhere I went I beheld the same sight all over the city, it was terrible beyond description to look upon. I thought this must be the end, but no, I was seemingly in an instant in the city of Philadelphia. There everything was still. No living soul was there to greet me. It seemed the whole city was without any inhabitants. In the south of Chestnut street and in fact everywhere I went the putrefaction of the dead caused such a stench that it was impossible for any living thing to breath, nor did I see any living thing in the city.

“Next I found myself in Broadway in New York, and there it seemed the people had done the best they could to overcome the disease, but in wandering down Broadway, I saw the bodies of beautiful women, some dead and others in a dying condition on the sidewalk. I saw men come out of cellars and ravish the persons of some that were yet alive, and then kill them and rob their bodies of all the valuables they had upon them and they would roll over a time or two and die in agony. In some of the back streets I saw them kill some of their own offspring and eat their raw flesh and in a few minutes die themselves.

“Everywhere I went I saw the same scenes of horror and destruction and death. No vehicles or cars were running, but death and destruction was everywhere. Then I saw a fire start, and just at that moment a mighty East wind sprang up and carried the flames over the city and it burned until there was not a single building left standing there. Even down to the waters edge. Wharves and shipping all seemed to burn and follow in common destruction where the great city was a short time ago. The stench of the bodies that were burning was so great that it was carried a long distance across the Hudson Bay and carried death and destruction wherever it penetrated. I cannot paint in words the horrors that seemed to compass me about. It was beyond the description of men.

“I supposed this was -the end, but no, I was given to understand, that the same horrors were being enacted all over the country – East, West, North, and South. FEW WERE LEFT ALIVE STILL THERE WERE SOME. Immediately after I seemed to be standing on the left bank of the Missouri and Illinois and all of Iowa were a complete desert with NO LIVING BEING THERE. A short distance from the river, however, I saw twelve men, dressed in temple robes, standing in a square or nearly so, and I understood it represented the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. Their hands were uplifted consecrating the ground and laying the Corner Stone of the temple.” Source: Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, June 15, 1878, “A Vision, Salt Lake City, Night of Dec 16, 1877

Is it not now obvious why the Lord said: “Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, FROM THE MIDST OF WICKEDNESS, which is SPIRITUAL BABYLON… Let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him.” D&C 133:14-15.

Here we see that one is in spiritual Babylon when he is in the “midst of wickedness”. We, of course, cannot be in physical Babylon today so it is obvious that the prophesies of Babylon in our day pertain to this “spiritual Babylon” as the scriptures have said.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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Questioning Mormonism

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 14 of 31 in the series 2011B

Fred asks:
Was Joseph Smith a real prophet, is the Book of Mormon more than fiction, was there a restoration of the Gospel in the early 19th century, and what happened to the leadership of the Church?

Are they still guided by God (and if not, why not–what happened to all the promises of guidance and direction)?

JJ
As a whole these are not the type of questions I ask for myself.  Let us take your first question for example. “Was Joseph Smith a real prophet?”

If a true believer feels the answer is yes then in his mind this means that every teaching he gave out, as a prophet, is true.  It means the end to seeking any further on those statements but to just accept.

This is not my approach to Joseph Smith or any other teacher.  My approach is to examine each teaching given out and see them as separate entities and run them by my soul.  If my innermost self confirms it to me than I go with it.

LWK referenced some writings I gave out about Joseph’s teachings about man and God, for example.  These register very strongly with my soul

On the other hand, plural marriage does not.  Either his teachings were altered on it or he made some mistakes as I see it.

Then you ask, “is the Book of Mormon more than fiction.”

This is good in that instead of just asking if the book is true you are fairly specific.

When I was in the church I followed the advice given and asked God if the Book of Mormon was true.  I didn’t receive an answer to that question but I did receive a lot through the Holy Spirit as I read the book.  Here are a few things.

(1) I am entitled to receive truth directly from God just as were the ancient prophets.

(2) Babies have no sin and do not need baptism to be saved.

(3) Christ does have other sheep.

(4) God speaks to all the peoples of the earth.

(5) No human servant judges whether we enter the kingdom of heaven.

(6) It teaches us to do good and elevates the spirit.

(7) Moroni’s warning that the United States would be in danger because of corruption and conspiracy.

Is the book historically true?  I think it is in part but not 100%.  I believe that Joseph lived a number of past lives as an ancient American Indian and with concentration could retrieve many ancient memories.  I think parts of the Book of Mormon were a retrieval of his past memories.

Were all the stories of the gold plates, visitations, visions accurate?  I do not know but do believe he had a number of supernatural experiences, but just not sure they were presented to us accurately.

I think Joseph was a sincere man doing his best but it appears he was deceived into thinking that it was all right to mislead in order to further the Kingdom of God. He was not the first prophet to do this, as such a teaching is a staple of the Muslim faith.

Then Fred asks, “was there a restoration of the Gospel in the early 19th century?”

Joseph did restore a number of things the most important of which is that all are entitled to revelation from God.

As far as authority goes I think Nephi from the Book of Mormon had it right when he said, “And the Holy Ghost giveth authority…”  I Nephi 10:22

Notice that this is the source of all authority in that book?

“Next Fred asks, “what happened to the leadership of the Church?”

The same thing that happens to every inspired movement.  It deteriorates just as the Principle of Corruption illustrates in my book Eternal Words.

Look at our country for instance.  When, except in its founding, has there been the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,  James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and many others dedicated to the same goal for the good of the people?

Even though we have a hundred times more people to draw from our government is lucky to have a hundredth part of the talent and intelligence as the initiators of this country.

The same thing has happened to the church.  The real thinkers are putting their attention other places than church leadership.

Fred: “Are they still guided by God.”

I think they receive some inspiration from time to time but nothing like as believed by the rank and file LDS.  Most of the time they just use their best judgment and sometimes it is right and sometimes not.

My book, Infallible Authority” which I sent you should give you a more complete answer to your questions.

More on the White Horse

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 32 of 49 in the series 2011A

Blayne:
You have been revisiting Mormon history a lot lately and now the White Horse Prophecy (WHP), are you trying to tell us something?

JJ
We all hope the next gathering will be a success and benefit to mankind and one way to help this to happen is to learn from the mistakes of the past. I have always realized there were mistakes made in Mormonism from the beginning, but until recently I did not understand the depth of the error in Utah while polygamy was practiced.

The rule there was a lot like the Taliban is today rather than anything related to the true Zion.

The study of what happened when some of the best people of that age had their chance at a gathering of lights is a textbook of what not to do the next time the opportunity presents itself.

The best of Jarman’s book is yet to come and two other good reads which are available free on the internet are the autobiographies of Bill Hickman and John D. Lee. These seemed to be two sincere men caught up in a destructive thoughtform that must be avoided in the next cycle.

Blayne writes:
“the Chinese already control the long beach port. And they are making use of these free trade zones (FTZ), they have one in Pocatello and up north and are trying to get one here in Boise. They are also planning them in all 50 states. Interestingly they are saying the land they give them remains US land but anything manufactured there is considered an import. Local police cannot come in the zone without being invited and Customs will only randomly check what goes in and out.

They get all kinds of perks and no taxes low duties etc. but government can’t give Americans anything similar to jump start the economy. There is a bunch of information at this site and a good audio that goes into it in detail here: http://republicbroadcasting.org/?p=13254 ”

JJ
Eye opening comments on the Chinese Blayne. Thanks. You also said:

“The White Horse Prophecy does not say anything about Islam being destroyed only about freedom being needed. I doubt Islam will be destroyed but will become more benign like Christianity as far as the extreme practices like jihad and treatment of women and death penalty etc.”

I think this is a very accurate statement. Islam will not be destroyed, but the people will evolve it into a more benign form. My guess is this will take about a hundred years but if we can work through the next 30-50 years with them without destroying our way of life then this benign evolution can take place and the world will be much better off for it.

Blayne writes:
Thanks for the response JJ. So why the WHP then, it does not seem to fit with just history lessons we want to avoid in a future gathering? Am I missing something?

JJ
I didn’t write about the White Horse Prophesy to connect it to the Hell on Earth series but mainly in response to a Nemelka post where he claimed it was false and Joseph Smith hated the Constitution.

There are connections to be made, however. Joseph envision the church as a positive force for freedom and support of the Constitution and while they had civil power they turned into a tyranny.

Now the church rejects the WHP and frowns on patriot movements. Any elders that work with saving the constitution will probably be acting on their own without the endorsement of the church.

Maybe the elders he was referring to will be Elders that were with him in that life that have been reborn for such a destiny.

Copyright 2011 by J J Dewey

The White Horse Prophecy

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 31 of 49 in the series 2011A

Constitution Hanging by a Thread

During these times of international stress, threats of revolution and internal threats to our country and the Constitution itself an increasing number of people are quoting from The White Horse Prophecy said to be given by Joseph Smith in May of 1843. Among other things he said:

“You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed; it will hang by a thread, and that thread as fine as the finest silk fiber.”

At this point the Prophet’s countenance became sad; because as he said, “I love the Constitution;

“It was made by the inspiration of God,

“And it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse (LDS Elders – or gathered lights) and the Red Horse (American Indians) who will combine in its defense.

…”There is a land beyond the Rocky Mountains that will be invaded by the heathen Chinese, unless great care and protection are given.

This was recorded by Edwin Rushton in a notarized statement with the following testimony:

“The words of the Prophet made a strong impression upon me. I have never forgotten them. On an occasion about two weeks later, after I first heard him speak these words, I was at a meeting where he preached a sermon, which he said would be the greatest of his life. On that occasion he reiterated the matter which I have now written, so that the subject became firmly rooted in my memory, and I know them to be true. Now, therefore, I testify that these are the inspired words spoken by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, as he stood looking up into heaven. His countenance became white and transparent; he looked as if he had as much of the Heavenly influence as he could bear and stay with the saints. His voice was powerful and his words cut like a two-edged sword.”
THE WHITE HORSE PROPHECY by Ogden Kraut, Page 25

The strange thing about this prediction is that even though it seems to have an eerie probability of coming to pass that the authorities in the church have distanced themselves from the prediction many calling it spurious. Not only that but many who quote from it are blacklisted and find their membership is in danger.

It is strange indeed that the apparent heroes of the prophesy fight against quoting that very prophesy. Perhaps the White Horse was more of a symbol of the Gathering of Lights than the church itself.

Here is a quote from the famous church Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:
“From time to time, accounts of various supposed visions, revelations, and prophecies are spread forth by and among the Latter-day Saints, who should know better than to believe or spread such false information. One of these false and deceptive documents that has cropped up again and again for over a century is the so-called White Horse Prophecy. This supposed prophecy purports to be a long and detailed account by the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning the wars, turmoils, and difficulties which should exist in the last days.”

It is interesting that there is so much resistance to the “hanging by a thread quote because there are many quote available attributed to early church leaders who actually knew Joseph Smith. It appears that Joseph may have given this statement out on numerous occasions. Here are a few examples:

CONSTITUTION TO HANG BY A THREAD. The statement has been made that the Prophet said the time would come when this Constitution would hang as by a thread, and this is true. There has been some confusion, however, as to just what he said following this. I think that Elder Orson Hyde has given us a correct interpretation wherein he says that the Prophet said the Constitution would be in danger. Said Orson Hyde: “I believe he said something like this—that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he: ‘If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of this Church.’ I believe this is about the language, as nearly as I can recollect it.” Now I tell you it is time the people of the United States were waking up with the understanding that if they don’t save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government.
Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 326

An occasional theme among Latter-day Saints during times of political crisis has been the prediction attributed to Joseph Smith that the U.S. Constitution would one day hang by a thread and that the elders of the Church would at some critical juncture be instrumental in saving it. The source of this statement is thought to be an unpublished address titled, “A Few Items from a Discourse Delivered by Joseph Smith, July 19, 1840,” filed in the Joseph Smith Papers in the LDS Church Archives. Written neatly on 8”x12” paper, the document is obviously a copy since it shows none of the usual characteristics of an original report. The paper appears to be of post-Nauvoo vintage, and the handwriting does not correspond to that of any of Joseph Smith’s known clerks. Nor is there reference in the Prophet’s History to his having delivered a discourse on 19 July 1840. Furthermore, at two points in the text, there appears to be a serious problem of continuity, suggesting copyist’s errors or some other flaw in the manuscript. Consequently, in the absence of an original text, and without information about its origin and authorship, the reliability of this document has remained somewhat tenuous.
The Historians Corner, BYU Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 390

Even this nation will be on the verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.
Joseph Smith Papers, LDS Church Historical Archives, Box 1, March 10, 1844

How long will it be before the words of the Prophet Joseph will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass.
Brigham Young, JD 12:204, April 8, 1868, Latter Day Prophets Speaks. Pg. 230

When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the “Mormon” elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it.
Brigham Young, JD 2:182, February 18, 1855, Latter Day Prophets Speaks. Pg. 230

When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations. This is part of the program and as long as we do what is right and fear God He will help us and stand by us under all circumstances.
John Taylor, JD 21:8, August 31, 1879

Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, “The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.” It will be so.
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 15, Brigham Young, July 4, 1854

The History of the Church account is an amalgamation of the reports in the Joseph Smith Diary and the Nauvoo Neighbor. The report by Levi Richards is here published for the first time. A reminiscent account of this discourse by James Burgess contains the essential details found in the other three accounts published here, and adds that the “Constitution and Government would hang by a brittle thread.” / In the month of May 1843. Several miles east of Nauvoo. The Nauvoo Legion was on parade and review. At the close of which Joseph Smith made some remarks upon our condition as a people and upon our future prospects contrasting our present condition with our past trials and persecutions by the hands of our enemies. Also upon the constitution and government of the United States stating that the time would come when the Constitution and Government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the Latter day Saints will step forth and save it. / General Scott and part of his staff on the American Army was present on the occasion. I James Burgess was present and testify to the above
(James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives). (Ehat & Cook, Words of Joseph Smith, 6 May 1843 Note, p. 279)

If tradition can be relied upon, Joseph Smith prophesied that the Elders of Israel would save this Nation in the hour of its extremest peril. At a time when anarchy would threaten the life of the Government, and the Constitution be hanging as by a thread, the maligned and misunderstood “Mormons”—always patriotic, and necessarily so from the very genius of their religion—would stand firm upon Freedom’s rocky ramparts, and as champions of law and order, liberty and justice, call to their aid in the same grand cause kindred [p.61] spirits from every part of the nation and from every corner of the world.
Joseph Smith Papers, LDS Church Historical Archives, Box 1, March 10, 1844 Also: D. Michael Stewart, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, June 1976, 64-65

Eliza R. Snow said, “I heard the prophet say, The time will come when the government of these United States will be so nearly overthrown through its corruption, that the Constitution will hang as it were by a single hair, and the Latter-day Saints-the Elders of Israel-will step forward to its rescue and save it.
In a Pioneer Day celebration in Ogden in 1871 – Journal History, MSF 143 #28, July 24, 1871

Jedediah M. Grant, during the dark days of threatened invasion of Utah by a federal army, referred to the Prophet’s utterance as he addressed a Mormon Battalion gathering in Salt Lake City, February 6, 1855. “What did the Prophet Joseph say? When the Constitution shall be tottering we shall be the people to save it from the hand of the foe.”
Deseret News Weekly, January 19, 1870

After reading a chapter in Ezekiel, the parable of the 12 olive trees in D&C 101:44-62, and referring to the Redemption of Zion, he said: We shall build the Zion of the Lord in peace until the servants of that Lord shall begin to lay the foundation of a great and high watch Tower and then shall they begin to say within themselves what need hath my Lord of this tower seeing this is a time of peace &c—Then the Enemy shall come as a thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad when the seed of these 12 Olive trees are scattered abroad they will wake up the Nations of the whole Earth Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff upon which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear away the constitution away from the very verge of destruction—Then shall the Lord say go tell all my servants who are the strength of mine house my young men and middle aged &c come to the Land of my vineyard and fight the battle of the Lord—Then the Kings & Queens shall come then the rulers of the Earth shall come then shall ail saints come yea the Foreign saints shall come to fight for the Land of my vineyard for in this thing shall be their safety and they will have no power to choose but will come as a man fleeth from a sudden destruction—But before this the time shall be these who are now my friends shall become my enemies and shall seek to take my life and are there are those now before me who will more furiously pursue me and the more diligently seek to my life and be more blood thirsty upon my track than ever were the Missouri Mobbers You say among yourselves as did them of old time it is I & is it I But I know these things by the visions of the Almighty.
Smith, Joseph. “Howard and Martha Coray Notebook, 19 July 1840″. The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph. Comp. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook. Orem, Utah: Grandin Book, 1991. 415-418

In the month of May 1843. Several miles east of Nauvoo. The Nauvoo Legion was on parade and review. At the close of which Joseph Smith made some remarks upon our condition as a people and upon our future prospects contrasting our present condition with our past trials and persecutions by the hands of our enemies. Also upon the constitution and government of the United States stating that the time would come when the Constitution and Government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the Latter day Saints will step forth and save it. / General Scott and part of his staff on the American Army was present on the occasion. / I James Burgess was present and testify to the above (James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives).
Smith, Joseph. “Howard and Martha Coray Notebook, 1 July 1840″. The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph. Comp. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook. Orem, Utah: Grandin Book, 1991.Page 279

And here is the entire White Horse Prophecy:

1. On or about the sixth day of May, 1843, a grand review of the Nauvoo Legion was held in Nauvoo. The Prophet Joseph complimented them for their good discipline and evolutions performed. The weather being hot, he called for a glass of water.

2. With the glass of water in his hand, he said, “I will drink you a toast to the overthrow of the mobocrats,” which he did in language as follows: “Here’s wishing they were in the middle of the sea, in a stone canoe with iron paddles, and a shark swallow the canoe, and the Devil swallow the shark, and him locked up in the northwest corner of Hell, the key lost and a blind man hunting for it.”

3. The next morning a man who had heard the Prophet give the toast here referred to, visited the mansion of the Prophet, and so abused him with bad language, that he was ordered out by the Prophet.

4. It was while the two were out, that my attention was attracted to them, and hearing the man speaking in a loud tone of voice, I went toward them, the man finally leaving. There were then present the Prophet Joseph Smith, Theodore Turley and myself. The Prophet began talking to us of the mobbings and drivings, the persecutions we as a people had endured. “But,” said he, “We will have worse things to see; our persecutors will have all the mobbings they want. Don’t wish them any harm, for when you see their sufferings, you will shed tears for them.”

5. While this conversation was going on, we stood by his south wicker gate in a triangle. Turning to me, he said, “I want to tell you something. In the future I will speak in parables like unto John, the Revelator.” (Little did I then think the prophet of the Lord would so soon be slain in cold blood.)

6. Continuing, he said, “You will go to the Rocky Mountains, and you will see a great and mighty people established, which I will call the White Horse of Peace and Safety.”

7. When the Prophet said, “You will see,” I asked him where he would be at that time.” He answered, “I shall never go there.”

8. “Your enemies will continue to follow you with persecutions, and they will make obnoxious laws against you in Congress to destroy the White Horse.

9. “But you will have a friend or two to defend you and throw out the worst part of the laws, so they will not hurt much.

10. “You must continue to petition Congress all the time, but they will treat you like strangers and aliens, and they will not give you your rights but will govern you with strangers and commissioners;

11. “You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed; it will hang by a thread, and that thread as fine as the finest silk fiber.”

12. At this point the Prophet’s countenance became sad; because as he said, “I love the Constitution;

13. “It was made by the inspiration of God,

14. “And it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse and the Red Horse who will combine in its defense.

15. “The White Horse will raise an ensign on the tops of the mountains of peace and safety where all nations may flee unto for safety.

16. “The White Horse will find the mountains full of minerals, and they will become very rich. You will find silver piled up in the streets. (At this time, it must be remembered that it was not known that the precious metals existed either in the Rocky Mountains or in California.) You will see gold shoveled up like sand.

17. “Gold will be but of little value even in a mercantile capacity, for the people of the world will have something else to do in seeking for salvation.

[21] 18.”The time will come when the banks in every nation will fail, and only two places will be safe where the people can deposit their gold and treasure. These places will be with the White Horse and England’s vaults.

19. “A terrible revolution will take place in the land of America, such as has never been seen before, for the land will be literally left without a supreme government, and every species of wickedness will run rampant; it will be so terrible that father will be against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother. The most terrible scenes of murder and bloodshed and rapine that have ever been looked upon will take place.

20. “Peace will be taken from the earth, and there will be no peace only in the Rocky Mountains. This will cause hundreds and thousands of the honest in heart of the world to gather there, not because they would be saints, but for safety, and because they would not take up the sword against their neighbors.

21. “You will be so numerous that you will be in danger of famine, but not for the want of seed time and harvest, but that so many will have to be fed. Many will come with bundles under their arms to escape the calamities, and there will be no escape, only by fleeing to Zion.

22. “Those that come to you will try and keep the laws and be one with you, for they will see your unity and the greatness of your organizations.

23. “The Turkish Empire or the Crescent will be one of the first powers that will be disrupted as a power, for freedom must be given for the Gospel to be preached in the Holy Land.

24.”The Lord took of the best blood of the nations, and planted them on the small island now called England, or Great Britain, and gave them great powers in the nations for a thousand years, and this power will continue with them, that they may keep the balance of power, that they may keep Russia from usurping power over all the world.

25. “England and France are now bitter enemies, but they will be allied together in order to keep Russia from conquering the world.

26. “The two Popes, Greek and Catholic, will come together and be united. The Protestant religions do not know how much they are indebted to Henry VIII for throwing off the Pope’s bull and establishing the Protestant faith. He was the only monarch that could do so at the time, and he did it because the nation was at his back to sustain him.

27. One of the peculiar features in England is the established red coat, a uniform making so remarkable a mark to shoot at, and yet they have conquered wherever they have gone. The reason for this will be known by them some day. The Lion and the Unicorn of England is the ensign of Israel. The wisdom and statesmanship of England comes from there being so much of the blood of Israel in the nation.

28. “While the terrible revolution of which mention has been made is going on, England will be neutral until it becomes so inhuman that she will interfere to stop the shedding of blood. England and France will then unite together and come with intention to make peace, not to subdue the nation. They will find the nation so broken up and so many claiming government, still there will be no [23] responsible government. Then it will appear to the other nations or powers as though England had taken possession of the country.

29. “The Black Horse will flee to the invaders and will join with them, for they will have fear of becoming slaves again, knowing England does not believe in slavery, fleeing to them, they believed would make them safe. Armed with British bayonets, the doings of the Black Horse will be terrible.”

30. So the Prophet said he could not bear to look longer upon the scene as shown him in vision, that he asked the Lord to close the scene.

31. Continuing, he said: “During this time, the great White Horse will have gathered strength, sending out elders to get the honest in heart of the United States to stand by the Constitution of the United States, as it was given by inspiration of the Lord.

32. “In these days, God will set up a kingdom, never to be thrown down, for other kingdoms to come unto, and these kingdoms that will not let the Gospel be preached will be humbled until they will.

33. “England, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium have a considerable amount of the blood of Israel among their people, which must be gathered. These nations will submit to the Kingdom of God. England will do it as a whole, in comparison as she threw off the Catholic power. The nobility know the Gospel is true, but it has not enough pomp and grandeur and influence for them to embrace it. They are proud and will not acknowledge the Kingdom of God, or come unto it until they see the power which it will have.

34. “Peace and safety in the Rocky Mountains will be protected by a cord and band of the White Horse and the Red Horse.

35. “The coming of the Ten Tribes of Israel, the coming of the Messiah among His people, will be so natural that only those who see Him will know He has come, but He will come and give His law unto Zion and minister unto His people. This will not be His coming in the clouds of heaven to take vengeance on the world.

36. The Temple in Jackson County will be built in this generation. The saints will think there will not be time to build it, but with all the great help you will receive, you can put up a great temple quickly. You will have gold, silver, and precious stones, for these things only will be used for beautifying the temple, all the skilled mechanics you want, and the Ten Tribes of Israel to help you build it. When you see this land bounded with iron, you may look toward Jackson County.”

37. At this point he made a pause, and looking up as though the vision was still in view, he said, “There is a land beyond the Rocky Mountains that will be invaded by the heathen Chinese, unless great care and protection are given. Speaking of the heathen, where there is no law there is no condemnation; this will apply to them.

38. “Power will be given the White Horse to rebuke nations afar off and they will obey, not that they will be one with the White Horse, but when the law goes forth, they will obey, for the law will go forth from Zion.

39. “The last great struggle Zion will have to contend with will be when the whole of America will be made the Zion of God.

40. “Those opposing will be called Gog and Magog The nations of the world led by the Russian Czar and their power, will be great, but all opposition will be overcome, and this land will be then the Zion of our God.” * * * * *

Hell on Earth, Part 1

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 17 of 49 in the series 2011A

Mormon history is quite obscure between 1850-1900.  It is true that quite a few journals exist but members were encouraged to write about faith promoting positive things.  Most of the negative writings or observations during that period came from people who did not live among the Saints.

I’ve been researching that period and have indeed discovered that all was not well in Zion.  By some accounts Mormonism had turned into a tyranny and plural; marriage was used as a means to enslave much of the female population.

It appears to me that dark forces gained a foothold among the gathered Saints and they were headed toward becoming more like the Taliban than Zion.  I was saddened by my discoveries because many of the founding teachings of Mormonism are indeed enlightening and the gathering principle itself is essential to fulfill divine purpose.

I used to think it a sad thing that the government stepped in and forced the church into compliance and essentially put a stop to the literal gathering.  And indeed it would have been sad if the church was on the path of love and light.  But it appears that if the church had succeeded in establishing a physical kingdom a tyranny would have resulted rather than an enlightened free state.

I am posting an edited version of William Jarman’s book about his experiences living among the LDS for 12 years during the height of the polygamous period.

Yes, the guy sounds like a bitter anti Mormon who may exaggerate at times, but if you or I went through what he did then we would also have a chip on our shoulders.

While I am sure Jarman’s work has bias in it I believe the eyewitness accounts he gives to be essentially true.  I have read everything I can find about this period and much of his story is backed up by other sources.

That said, here is the first installment of my edited version of his book which is now in public domain.  I’ve eliminated some of his rambling and discourses on doctrine and am concentrating on giving out his actual story.  As far as I know this is the first time the digital text has been made available online – though Google does have a non digital scanned version.

Part One

U.S.A. Uncle Sam’s Abscess,

Or Hell Upon Earth

For

U.S. (Uncle Sam)

By William Jarman

Knight of the Grand Legion of North America,

WHO SUFFERED TWELVE YEARS IN

THE MORMON HELL ON EARTH;

AS ONE OF THE

“VIRGINS WITHOUT GUILE

AND

A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK:

WHERE POLYGAMY, INCEST, AND MURDER ARE TAUGHT AND PRACTISED AS RELIGION UNDER THE “ALL SEEING EYE,” AND THE SIGN ?HOLINESS UNTO TH.E LORD.”

Copyright secured in both Hemispheres.

Exeter: England, 1884.

Printed At H. Leduc’s Steam Printing Works, Exeter, England.

ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884,

BY Wm. JARMAN,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington and at Stationer’s Hall, London.

PREFACE.

This history of American Polygamy and Crime reviews Mormon Doctrine and Practice from the time Joseph Smith died and Brigham Young became its Notorious Leader, up to date. I deal with “Uncle Sam’s Abscess” as it exists in the present age: for its inception, rise and progress years ago,. has been amply dealt with by others, and did it but trouble Uncle Sam, this, child of care would never impose this book upon long-suffering Britishers. But knowing it takes British blood, bone, and sinew to nourish it, and increase its. growth: and having myself been drawn into the vortex of this filthy corruption-this Hell upon Earth, and narrowly escaped, it becomes my duty to. warn my fellow citizens, and try to prevent them being allured into the Great Basin of crime, misery and woe. For after all that has been said and written about this AMERICAN HELL, the half has’ never been told. Today the world knows but little of the goings on in THE YANKEE SODOM. I know it all, and so far as. these pages allow, tell what I know of the Utah Latter-day Devils; who preach and practice as religion all the crime of the Decalogue. Their Missionaries, come here with an open Bible, and seduce Good Christian People by tens of thousands, and drag them to a far worse Sodom than existed anciently. These Devilish Wolves come in the very best Sheep’s Clothing, and appear as. the Devil himself often does, “As an Angel of Light.”

When the Devil’s abroad the Devil a Saint will be,

When the Devil’s at home, the Devil a Saint is he.

(Hudibras slightly altered.)

They come prepared “to deceive the very Elect,” and are quite successful. The Sacred Garb, they assume cover their nefarious schemes, and hellish aims, and not until we arrive in America’s “Sodom,” are we aware of their filthy and awfully wicked practices. There the Bible is cast aside to give place to other books, and even newspapers. Christ is Blasphemed; they say “He was a jolly good fellow, had lots of wives, and squalling brats.”

It shocks one trained a. Christian to hear them Blaspheme Jehovah, Christ, and all sacred subjects. In Great Britain, Mormon Missionaries, to seduce Christians, preach Christianity far better than its own Ministers can. For Mormons belong to the Devil, serve him, and get his aid: Mormons and Devils know Scripture well, can quote it to suit exactly, and beat any Christian D. D. who is in opposition to the Devil. Marvel not then, that I a Church member was entrapped. I wonder they do not catch every Christian by their glib talk. They nab scarce any but Christians, quite nine-tenths of their converts are from the Churches of Christendom. My object in giving this to the world is to arouse Pastor and People, and warn them against those shrewd Yankee tricksters, who know how to use “soft soap.”

I am ashamed to think the Government allows her people to be ” religiously ” swindled under false pretences, and not pass laws to prevent it. I am also pained to find so much spent on the Clergy and Ministers of all denominations, while they allow their flocks to be taken by these Mormon Wolves, without even a word of caution. I would give anything to have been cautioned by my Minister and spared this curse of my life.

It’s no use crying over spilt milk; having been drawn into the evil, good may result by my telling what I know of it. In this work I give the true character of Utah’s Abominations, whose Missionaries compass Sea and Land to make one proselyte. I aim to guard the innocent, and show the licentious and wicked their Paradise-where a life of Sin and Shame is Sanctified and Relished. All determined to lead a vicious life should leave their country for their country’s good, and Emigrate at once to Utah. There they honor you, and you get the best positions for what you’d get put in jail for here! So don’t stay here, pack up your duds, take the first steamer and be off to this Hell upon Earth. We can well spare you, and much rather have your room than your company. In Utah you will be a “Hail fellow well met,” and have a jolly time. If you have a craving for Drink, Lust, or Murder, go to Utah! Your keenest appetite will there be fully satisfied, and your valuable services command a premium. A word to the wise is sufficient-to . Christians I say, Beware! Beware! Beware!

I give a brief account of my chequered life in the first chapter, which may interest some readers. Then I portray “Uncle Sam’s Abscess,” and I have no doubt by the time the reader gets through, he will say with me, “It is a perfect “Hell upon Earth.” I have only to add just this

There is on Earth a Hell, I know, for I’ve been there,

But I got out, the tale to tell, and warn you of the snare.

Wolves in sheeps’ clothes, cry “Heaven Below! “

List not to these your foes, or else, too late, you’ll sure to know

Sorrow, and crime, and woes.

 

It’s in America, this Hell on Earth is found,

The situation’s quite O. K., but Liberty is bound,

Its Bosses prate, “Break every law!

“Take more than one dear mate! ” This brings a vast amount

More than I can relate.

 

Suffice to say, just here, ’tis Hell on Earth to all,

Who for more wives than one doth care, or list to Mormon call”

Lo Christ is there! ” What downright lying!

It’s but a fearful snare. For Lust and Murder there they’re plying,

Beware! Beware! Beware!

Done at Ye Ancient and Ye Honourable Citie of Exeter on this Ye First Day of April, Anno Domini, 1884, and between Ye 47th and Ye 48th Year or Ye Reign on this sad vale of tears of Ye trulie unfortunate,

WILLIAM JARMAN..

58, Parr Street, Exeter, Devon, England.

How BRITISH CHRISTIANS ARE “SUCKED IN “-LED INTO SODOM I GOT “ROPED IN “-WHAT I SAW AND HEARD IN HELL.

Mormon Missionaries sneak around Great Britain like Three Card tricksters and gamblers do, seeking to entrap unwary Christians, and all whom they may devour. Trained by the Devil ere they land at Liverpool, they are up to every trick and know all the moves on the board. Their Yankee Tricks nab the English, Scotch, and Welsh Christians by thousands upon thousands. Mormon Baptisms attract the Baptists and make them easy prey. Universal Salvation and “The final perseverance of the Saints” as preached by Mormons, catch the Methodists; Calvinists get in ecstasy over the beautiful gathering of the “Mormon Elect; ” while Scotch and English Presbyterians, Established Church members, Congregationalists, Brethren, Quakers. Bible Christians, and all classes of Christians, but Catholics lay hold on the hope set before them in the “Mormon Gospel: ” simply because forsooth the Devil trains the Missionary how to set the bait to suit any particular creed or dogma.

He becomes “All things to all men,” especially to Girls from 10 to 15, and young women between 15 and 35 years old; the younger, the more tender the sympathy. “The Mormons” have a particular fondness for the fair sex provided they are not old: “The younger widows refuse,” is not in the Mormon Bible. They regard old maids as lacking in spiritual efficiency, ladies over the age of 35 and unmarried, seldom embrace Mormonism in any shape or form. If married they are considered as being “up to snuff;” and the Mormon Priest has a peculiar way of reaching them: they “creep into houses” when the husband is not at home and “lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, for of this sort are they.”

Each has concubines 7000 miles away, but too far for fellow sympathy here, and though their brothels are “crowded like an omnibus there’s room for more,” and they come here for the very purpose of securing prostitutes for their hellish dens of infamy in Utah. So they creep in as aforesaid, do their “level best” to seduce other men’s wives and daughters, lead them away to their Seraglios, or swop them off for others with some Apostle or Bishop who prefers a change.

These Libertines, and habitual Lechers, are thrown upon the British public for three years, and we are expected to believe that during that time they live a life of’ Celibacy. You can believe it if you like; I don’t; nor shall I, until fish live without water. Mormon fish are not long out of water in England, if at all: there is so much water around our little Island.

A “Good Saint “- that is a man who can marry ‘and whip a lot of wives – being ordered on a Mission to England, I knowing his proclivities so well, said to him, “You will take a few of your wives along won’t you, as you cannot well get on without them? He replied, “I’m no such d-fool as to carry coal to Newcastle I can get all I want in England: there’s plenty there!” Knowing his extra-ordinary wants in that direction I pitied the poor victims he might happen to come across. As I have a special chapter dealing with Missionaries and their nice goings on, I say no more here on that point.

The Mormon Elder is equal to every emergency. If a girl’s parents object to her going to Utah, she is quietly put on board ship and sent off to Utah’s Brothels to become a Prostitute. Does the kind Husband and Father object to have his wife made a ” Saintess “? He comes home some night, finds that his bosom’s partner has ransacked the house, stolen the valuables, gone off with the children together with the old lecherous Priest to Utah, there to become his fifth tenth, or fiftieth wife While at the same time ‘ the Stepfather also becomes the husband of all her daughters over twelve years, and of the others when they attain that age. Should the “Dear Husband ” embrace Mormonism, and the wife refuse to embrace it, or him, unless he renounces the vile thing, the Mormon Devil to encourage the deluded victim quotes this Scripture to him, “Every one that forsaketh father, or mother, OR WIFE, or children, for the Gospel’s sake, shall receive AN HUNDRED-FOLD now in this time, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

Now says the Mormon Priest, “If you believe the Bible you must leave wife and children for the Gospel’s sake: no wife should hinder a man’s salvation; sell out, leave wife and children (males) on the Parish, and go to Zion: and I promise you in the name of Israel’s God, an hundred-fold of wives and children in this life, and in the world to come, life everlasting. You shall enjoy the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, David and Solomon, for God who changeth not hath given Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and some Teachers the right to enter Polygamy as anciently; to raise up a righteous seed, for the work of the ministry and the perfecting of the saints.

If thou art faithful in a few things’ and will forsake thy wife and little ones as God commands, he will make thee ruler over many things (many wives), if He sees thee worthy, as was David and Solomon, his son. Take up thy Cross, follow Christ, and all will be well with thee for time and in Eternity.”

A decent man who scruples to become prostituted is tenderly informed that God is faithful, and He will not suffer him to be tempted above what he is able to bear. Polygamy is very rarely practiced; it’s only occasionally, when the Lord finds a worthy Solomon that the thing is permitted at all.” In short, God is at the helm, and, according to Mormon teaching, steering all the Utah filthy business.

I have seen hundreds of thousands who have thus left the various Churches of Christendom, and gone to Utah’s Hell; the Catholic Church only being exempt. Catholics are perfectly satisfied with their Priests; view Mormonism as an Opposition Priesthood, and resist its (Mormon) Priests. Hence Mormon Missionaries fail to convert the Irish. [” True ’tis a pity, pity, ’tis, ’tis true; “] I must tell the truth, and in my bungling way put it in the best shape I can.

I traveled over a thousand miles of Mormon Territory; spent twelve years in their Cities, Towns, and Settlements, and found but three Irish; two from Australia, the other a renegade Jesuit, who, had he remained in his Native Country, would have kept as many mistresses as he now does concubines in Utah. He likes it, has a jolly time, does the thing “quite up to Dick,” says, “the work in which he is engaged is true, and the Kingdom is the O. K. thing.” But oh! I saw thousands of Christians from English, Scotch, and Welsh Churches, bitterly lamenting the sorrow and crime of that Hell upon Earth; but before relating it I must tell further how Mormon Missionaries work, and how I got into the trap.

Though they single out victims and depend much on fireside chat, yet their unholy zeal fires ’em up at times to come out boldly, and try to take a town by storm. London is even now being flooded with hand bills in which these devils “cheek it out,” and call themselves “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:”

Here is a verbatim et literatim copy, but recently sent me:-

WHICH IS RIGHT?

There is ONE Body (Church), ONE Spirit, ONE Lord, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism.”-Eph. iv.., 4-6

THEREFORE OF THE 666 DIFFERENT RELIGIONS OF THE DAY 665 ARE WRONG AND BUT ONE IS RIGHT.

WHICH IS RIGHT?

That Church which corresponds in all respects to the Church established by Christ and His Apostles, teaching FAITH, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM by immersion for the remission of sins, THE LAYING ON OF HANDS for the gift of the HOLY GHOST with signs following the believer; and which has for its officers, APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, PASTORS, TEACHERS, aids, governments, &c., all of whom are CALLED and AUTHORIZED of God; as were these officers in the early primitive Church.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS is the only Church which corresponds to this perfect pattern, and consequently is the only ONE by which mankind can BE SAVED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Jesus says-John v. 39-” Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life. Therefore we earnestly request all lovers of truth to examine the following passages:-
>
FAITH-Heb. xi. 6 and I; James ii. 14 to 26.

REPENTANCE-Luke xiii., 3 and 5; Eze. xviii., 30; Acts xvit., 30.

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION-Matt iii.; Mark xvi., beg. 15; Acts ii., 37 to 41; John iii. 5 and 23; Rom. vi., beg. 3.

HOLY GHOST, HOW CONFERRED, &C.-Acts viii., 17; 1 Cor. xii.; Acts xix.; Matt. iii., ii; i Cor. xvi., 26; Acts ii., 3, 4, and 17.

OFFICERS-Eph. iii., 5; ii., 20; iv., II, 12, and 13; Luke vi., beg. 13.

AUTHORITY-Rom. x’, 14 and 15; John xiii., zo; John xvii., 18; Heb. v., 4; Ex. iv., beg. 15; i Sam. xiv., beg. 8; 2 Chron. xxvi., beg. 16; Acts xiii, beg. 2; yohn vii., 17; Gal, 1., 8.

OUR MEETINGS ARE HELD AS FOLLOWS:-

NORTH LONDON BRANCH.-42, Penton Street, Pentomille, on Sunday at 2.30 and 6.30 p.m., and on Thursday at 8 p.m.

WHITECHAPEL BRANCH at Orson’s Assembly Rooms, 23, New Road, Commercial Road, on Sunday at 2.30 and 6.30 p.m.

LAMBETH BRANCH at Kennington Hall, Upper Kennington Lane (near Licensed Victuallers’ School), on Sunday at 2.30 and 6.30 p.m.

Also at 59, Berthon Street, Church Street, Deptford, at 8 p.m., every Tuesday.

THE PUBLIC ARE CORDIALLY INVITED. ALL SEATS FREE.

JOSEPH A. WEST,

[Thanks for the cordial invite, I shall attend when I visit my native city.)

This is followed with another showing but a few of their very many doctrines. You will notice that Polygamy, their great fundamental doctrine is left out in the cold in both. I give the hand bill as it is:-

” ARTICLES OF FAITH, OF THE

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

(Lists LDS articles of Faith and scriptural references)

[The beforegoing handbill was being circulated in Plymouth also, before my recent visit there, and mark-there is nothing said about Polygamy! the pivot upon which the whole thing turns].

They sell a dwarf pamphlet for one penny, the size of circulars usually given away by travelling shows. On the front is printed in type exactly like this:-

” THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS’ MILLENNIAL STAR’

BUT WE DESIRE TO HEAR OF THEE WHAT THOU THINKEST: FOR AS CONCERNING THIS SECT, WE KNOW THAT IT IS EVERYWHERE SPOKEN

AGAINST.-Acts xxviii., 22.

How beautiful Upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, ” Thy God reigneth

LIVERPOOL:

EDITED & PUBLISHED BY JOHN HENRY SMITH,

FOR SALE AT THE LATTER-BAY SAINTS’ BOOK DEPOT, 19, SOUTHERLAND STREET, PIMLICO, S.W.”

This “Bright and Morning Star,” given me recently by a Devonport Mormon, thus devotes its “valuable space. “We have heard a number of times lately of a vile fellow by the name of William Jarman, who, has been about the South of England lecturing against the Mormons, and visiting the Saints wherever he could learn of any living in that region for the purpose of poisoning their minds against THE PRINCIPLES they had EMBRACED. Then follows a perfect tirade of abuse to which I shall devote my valuable space, and VERY KIND REGARDS in a special chapter, when I have more fully shown “THE PRINCIPLES EMBRACED.” Though I must not picture all that a Mormon Embraces, I will do justice to it so far as the law allows. I just notice the scurrilous article to prove by Mormon Authority that what I say in the preface is true. I’ve hurt ’em, “let the galled jade wince.” So long as they remain. here, and the breath of life remains in me, they will hear still more and more of this “vile fellow.”

The Mormons would feel indebted to me for freely advertising this small fraction of their creed, did I but stop at that. But having sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, I must tell it all. Why do they not preach it all in England as they do in Utah? Echo answers why? There they proclaim that a man must have from two up to 500 wives according to his several abilities and his several-well call it ” Etcetras,” or he cannot be saved, and exalted among the gods; that any one who leaves the Mormon Church- MUST HAVE HIS THROAT CUT or he will be everlastingly damned; that Christ is one of their class-a full fledged Polygamist; that he married Mary Magdalen, Martha and Mary, and a host of women over around Judea when he was there, and begat a crowd of children that eclipse many of the big Utah families-as an old Mormon Priest once, when speaking of Jesus, said:-“

He was on it you bet, he was as fond of the women as any       son of a ____here, and lor’ didn’t he have a ____ lot of squalling, ragged _____ brats calling him Dad! Of course he did, or how by _____ could he’ See his Seed,’ and prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hands?”

I heard preached in Utah Tabernacle that Jehovah keeps a far bigger Harem than Solomon did: he had only 1000 wives and concubines, whereas Jehovah has Millions. Adam, they preach, is the God of this Planet, and the reigning Mormon Prophet is the God of this generation. To disobey him, or fail to carry out his edict, is punishable by death. These and similar doctrines, I heard preached in Utah. Now if Mormon Elders would preach like that in Great Britain, I could trust the British Christian Public, for I know they would gain but few converts, if any, from among us. But here they do I not so preach. In England, Scotland, and Wales, they preach what they call “The sincere milk of the word-first principles,” and it certainly is cooked up to suit the palate of the most fastidious Christian.

When the ” Elder ” first came to my house at Exeter, he quietly closed the door, raised both his hands, then with an expression of countenance such as we expect to see only on the Saviour himself, with Angelic voice exclaimed, “Peace be to this house!” This astonished me, my wife, and another Christian then present. (This was shortly after my asylum episode, when I had determined, as far as I could, to lead a godly, sober, and religious life.)

When we expressed our astonishment, he said, “I presume you are Christians, and understand this book,” taking from his pocket a nicely bound Bible. Replying in the affirmative, he at once said, “Then I will read the words of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ‘Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves.’ (He should have transposed the last three words, and read, wolves among lambs.) Carry neither purse nor scrip, and into whatsoever house Ye enter, first say Peace be ‘to this house.’ If the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it, if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give; for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. Luke, 10th chapter, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th verses.”

He closed the Book, sat down, and seemed to feel at home. Dinner was ready, and fancying he rather emphasised the words, “If the son of peace be there, in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give; ” and being anxious to know if the son of peace was in my house, for if not this chap was not going to stop, I rang the bell for dinner, and said “My Friend, you will stay and take dinner with us.”

But how can I describe my feelings when this man of God (the Devil) replied, “I have meat to eat the world knows not of; my meat is to do the will of him that sent me.” Oh! how I had inwardly to chide myself for being so wicked as to fancy that emphasis was “put on.’ I knew it was my duty “to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,” and thought, am I in an angel’s presence? does my house now shelter an angel and I not know it? I looked at the man-he had on good Sheep’s wool, dyed in the wool, real West of England Wool dyed Black Broadcloth, like that made formerly in Devonshire.

I could not penetrate his sheep’s clothing or I should have seen that inwardly he was double dyed in sin, as I afterwards found his sins were not only ” scarlet and crimson,” but as black as a blind Ethiopian in a dark cellar at midnight, just before new moon, looking for a coal-black colour-blind torn cat. If any one can give a better definition of real blackness, and will forward it to W. Jarman, 58, Parr Street, Exeter, Devon, England, he will gladly pay for it to insert in future editions. Please send the bill with it. Draw it mild, don’t stick it on; remember I give a lot for a little money.

In brief, things went on all right, for the ” Elder ” did nothing but quote Scripture, till in answer to my question he said, “He (the Elder) was a Latter-Day Saint: ” my wife, who knew a little of the Mormons, charged him with believing in and practising Polygamy as part of their religion. Seeing she knew something about it he did not deny it, but said “Polygamy is very rarely followed; the Prophet Brigham, and one or two others practise it because God I revealed to them that they must do so. But Mrs. Jarman it is not essential to salvation, as you seem to think, that men must become Polygamists. It is very different. Even supposing the Lord revealed to the Prophet that Bro. Jarman should take another wife. Before he can do so, you must be consulted and give your consent. If you refuse to consent that ends the matter, and your husband cannot become a Polygamist. It could not be otherwise, dear sister, or else see what sorrow and trouble would result.”

This settled the affair with my wife, as she said “I should never be such a fool as to consent to my husband marrying another wife so long as I live, so there will never be any Polygamy in our family.” “That’s so, of course there won’t, if you object Sister Jarman,” replied the Mormon Missionary. “And I certainly should object, said Mrs. J. “And you certainly can,’ answered the Mormon wolf,. and added, “It’s no use talking upon that point for that’s settled.”

Polygamy, the only objection then known, having been thus disposed of, – the way was clear. This Mormon Missionary baptized us into the Mormon Church, and in two weeks thereafter we were on board the steamer on our way to Zion, only just in time to save our bacon; for “God was about to pour out his judgments on Great Britain, and was gathering out his Elect.” They spin the same yarn to-day: God is always just about to do it, but somehow He fails. to verify the Mormon Missionaries’ predictions.

Again, the Mormon Missionary pictured the beauties of Zion where God was gathering His people. There everyone we met was a brother (or a sister) and a friend. There only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all” prevailed. All worshipped together in One big Tabernacle. Said the “Elder,” ” Only fancy, suppose all the people of Exeter were Christians, and all of one faith, and every man you met here was a brother and a friend? “

Dear Reader, please suppose the same of your own City, Town, or Village, and you will think as I did-it must be like a Heaven below. Besides, silks which I was. foolishly selling here at 2s. per yard would fetch 12s. 6d. a yard in Salt Lake City, and all my drapery goods would be similarly enhanced in value if transported to Utah. Again I could have 160 acres of land for nothing, and another 160 acres at 5s. per acre, and have three years in which to pay for it; thus my 320 acres of land would only cost on the average 2s. 6d. per acre, and that not to be paid for until the expiration of three years, so as to give me time to raise-enough off my farm to pay for the land.

With such inducements, coupled with the religious part of this programme, is it any wonder that Mormon Missionaries entrap the unwary? Is it any wonder that so many, especially of the poorer classes of British people are caught, and begin to sing-

“To the West, to the west, to the land of the free,

Where the mighty Missouri rolls down to the sea,

Where a man is a man if he’s willing to toil,

And the poorest may reap of the fruits of the soil.”

And are not satisfied until they get there. Thousands are being thus caught today.

We sailed from England in the summer of 1866. Arriving in New York we found the Indians were causing great trouble out West; it was unsafe to cross the plains. We accordingly had to stop over until the next summer. Large companies of ” saints ” were then expected to gather to “Zion.” I accepted a situation in Whitney and Myers’ Dry Good Store (Drapery Establishment), Albany, New York. The Indians were so troublesome the following summer there was no emigration of British Saints to Utah; consequently I remained with the same firm until July, 1868, when the first company from England crossed the plains. It was then I left my good situation, and with my family and the British saints set out on the weary pilgrimage to Zion.

To describe that journey is impossible here; but, in passing, I must say, the Missionaries, who had been three years in England, seemed to have special regard for the Female Lambs of the flock, and were I to tell what I saw during that six weeks’ journey over the plains, camping out as we had to, night after night, and sleeping in wagons, under wagons, under trees, bushes, or any shelter we could find: I say, were I to tell all I then saw and heard this book could not be sent by mail, while I myself would be sent to jail. If I protested in any way I was kindly informed that I had better mind my own business, or I should be put where the dogs could not bite me. Afterwards at a Bishop’s meeting one of the Missionaries publicly said, “I should have been murdered on the plains but for him, that I found fault with everything, and the ” Saints ” wanted to kill me there and then. I told them the reason I found fault with everything was because everything demanded it. But I must not dwell on this.

Copyright by J J Dewey

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The Polygamy Question

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 16 of 49 in the series 2011A

A reader writes:
There is only one thing that has bothered me so far and that is your explanation on Joseph Smith and polygamy? It sounds like you completely believe he was (and is) a prophet but this explanation you give to explain polygamy just is not sitting well with me at all … I do believe in Joseph being a prophet and as such believe in the doctrine of polygamy. How can you believe a man was a prophet and not believe in a vital doctrine that he taught?

JJ
I think that the LDS have a wrong view of prophets. Not every word they teach is God breathed or the black and white truth. For instance, Joseph’s revelation on selling the copyright to the Book of Mormon turned out to be completely untrue.

Even Jesus said the temple would be destroyed so not one stone would be left upon another, but there still exists a wailing wall.

To follow any flesh and blood man without question is to receive the mark of the beast. The only infallible authority comes from the Spirit within. If you want to know the truth behind polygamy or any other doctrine you must run it by your own soul be open to all things as a little child. I have done this and get no go-head to practice polygamy but do not condemn anyone who does through their own free will.

I believe Joseph saw the beginnings of The Molecular Relationship (see my book on this) but what he received was misinterpreted.

It is difficult to sort out all that happened with polygamy. It is interesting that there is not proof that Joseph fathered even one child through his dozens of wives. So far all DNA testing has shown that kids thought to be descended from him are not.
Here’s an interesting book you might want to check out:

http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm

Reader:
So what is for your feeling as to why most of the ancient prophets practiced polygamy? … Is your feeling that they all practiced it out of free will? From what I have read they thought that they would receive greater blessings and rewards which before I had just thought of that as more posterity but when you have 1,000 or more lives how much more posterity do you need, right?

JJ
Not only did the ancient prophets practice polygamy but just about all the ancient peoples did. Many pharaohs, kings, tribal leaders, religious leaders practiced it. Greece and Rome were two empires that only practiced it during part of their histories. Herod of New testament fame had nine wives.

Mohamed had numerous wives and that tradition is still carried on among the wealthy Moslems today. Would you like to be a plural wife of a Taliban leader? I don’t think so.

Just about anyone who had the means to support more than one wife was polygamous in most cultures. Polygamy was much more prevalent among the rich and powerful than the common people for it was all an average guy could do to support one wife and the kids – and often this was a terrible struggle.

This also worked in reverse. Many powerful women in the ancient world had more than one lover, but weren’t usually officially married to them.

So basically polygamy thrived in the ancient world and powerful men took numerous wives because they could. Powerful men also took many slaves. Why? Because they could. Interestingly, neither slavery or polygamy were condemned in the Bible. That doesn’t make either of them right. It just tells us that the consciousness of the people in that age was not prepared to change their age old traditions.

It is interesting that the early Mormons practiced polygamy yet the practice was condemned in the Book of Mormon, the foundation book of Mormonism.

Jacob 1:15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

Jacob 2:23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.

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