Mormonism Exposed (Hancock)/Chapter 24
The testimony that we have given from members of the Reorganized church demonstrates the fact that Joseph Smith was a polygamist. We purpose, however, to place this matter in such clear light that it can never be doubted by any who desire the truth. In a discourse delivered by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City, Aug. 29, 1852, he said:
"You heard Brother Pratt state this morning that a revelation would be read this afternoon, which was given previous to Joseph's death . . . The original copy of this revelation was burned up. William Clayton was the man who wrote it from the mouth of the prophet. In the meantime it was in Bishop Whitney's possession. He wished the privilege of copying it, which Brother Joseph granted. Sister Emma burnt the original . . . This revelation has been in my possession many years; and who has known it? I keep a patent lock on my desk, and there does not anything leak out that should not." Tullige, pp. 565, 566.
Joseph having shown by his conduct that he was determined, on his own part, to carry out the principles of that polygamous document to their fullest import, William and Wilson Law, one a Major-General, the other a member of the First Presidency, the highest quorum in the church, together with the Higbees, Fosters and others, determined to expose the corruption of Smith and his associates. In order to this they started a paper called the Nauvoo Expositor. Of this enterprise Tullige, p. 476, says:
"These sought to establish in Nauvoo an incendiary paper called the Nauvoo Expositor, the avowed purpose of which was to stir up the people of Illinois to bring Joseph Smith to justice for his crimes and to expel the saints from the State. It was like building the magazine of the enemy in the city of Refuge; and also after the first number of the Expositor the city council declared the paper a public nuisance and dangerous to the peace of the commonwealth; and they thereupon ordered the office of the paper to be demolished by the marshal and his posse."
This shows the moral character of the spirit by which the Mormon prophet was inspired! Why did not those leaders challenge an open investigation? Smith's course in this matter showed that he was possessed of the spirit of an unprincipled tyrant; and could he have had his way there would have been an end to free speech and liberty of the press. The Mormon prophet showed that he was possessed of the same spirit and made of the same material of the Mohammedan prophet. The following shows the true spirit of this modern prophet.
"In the winter of 1843—1844." says Governor Ford, of Illinois, who was intimately acquainted with Smith and his associates, "the Common Council passed some other ordinance to protect their leaders from arrest, on demand from Missouri. They enacted that no writ issued from any other place than Nauvoo, for the arrest of any person in it, should be executed in the city, without an approval thereon endorsed by the Mayor; that if any public officer by virtue of any foreign writ, should attempt to make any arrest in the city without such approval of his process, he should be subject to imprisonment for life, and that the Governor of the State should not have the power of pardoning the offender without the consent of the Mayor."
Remember, gentle reader, Joseph Smith was the mayor. This gives an insight to the spirit of the man. He purposed to place himself above all civil authority, and live as he pleased in defiance of all civil law! He was then living in adultery—practicing polygamy in defiance of all civil law, in opposition to all principles of virtue and morality. He did not propose that his licentious course should be interfered with. The first number of the Nauvoo Expositor contained affidavits from General Bennett and others, certifying that Smith was practicing polygamy. Smith decreed that the paper and press should be destroyed and it was done! But, says Governor Ford:
"To crown the whole folly of the Mormons, in the spring of 1844, Joe Smith announced himself as a candidate for the president of the United States. His followers were confident that he would be elected. Two or three thousand missionaries were immediately sent out to preach their religion and to electioneer in favor of their prophet for the Presidency." Beadle, p. 72.
Again:
"The Mormons openly denounced the government of the United States as utterly corrupt and as being about to pass away, and be replaced by the government of God, to be administered by his servant Joseph. It is at this day certain also, that about this time the prophet re-instituted an order in the Church called the 'Danite band.' These were to be a body of police and guards about the person of their sovereign who were sworn to obey his orders as the orders of God himself. Soon after these institutions were established, Joe Smith began to play the tyrant over several of his followers. The first act of this sort which excited attention, was an attempt to take the wife of William Law, one of his most talented and principal disciples, and make her a spiritual wife." Beadle. p. 92.
The Governor further says:
"It must not be supposed that the pretended prophet practiced the tricks of a common imposter; that he was a dark and gloomy person with a long beard, a grave and severe aspect, and a reserved and saintly carriage of his person; on the contrary he was full of levity, even to boyish romping; dressed like a dandy, and at times drank like a sailor and swore like a pirate." Beadle, p. 114.
The Manuscript History of Joseph Smith, as written by himself, fell into the hands of the Mormon leaders, and was taken to Salt Lake. After the controversy between L. O. Littlefield of Utah, and Joseph Smith, of Lamoni, Iowa, Littlefield published a tract entitled, "Celestial Marriage; Positive Proof that Joseph Smith Had Plural Wives." In that tract Mr. Littlefield says:
"In the History of Joseph Smith, under date of October 5, 1843, can be found the following: 'Gave instructions to try those persons who were preaching, teaching or practicing the doctrine of plural wives; for according to the law I hold the keys of this power in the last days; for there is never but one on earth at a time on whom the power and its keys are conferred, and I have constantly said that no man shall have but one wife at a time unless the Lord direct otherwise.'"
Of course, we are to understand that when Joe Smith gave permission for a man to have a plurality of wives it was the Lord "directing otherwise." For, of what benefit were the "keys of this power," without permission to use them. The polygamy, hence, that was practiced in Nauvoo, was by direction of Joe Smith. By what law did Smith hold the keys of this power? By the law embodied in the Polygamous Revelation! In this we have the testimony of Smith that polygamy was practiced by his approval, and that, hence, he was the author of the polygamous revelation. The keys of that power placed Smith over the entire marrying business. Governor Ford says:
"By means of his Common Council without the authority of law, he established a recorder's office in Nauvoo in which alone the titles of property could be recorded. In the same manner and with the same want of legal authority he established an office for issuing marriage licenses to Mormons, so as to give him absolute control of the marrying propensities of his people." Beadle, p. 92.
The reader will remember the requirement in the polygamous document, that "My servant Joseph" keep his property in his own hands. Why this? No bond, deed, record, enactment, or contract in any court or office of the Gentiles is of any force! As we have said, Smith was determined to carry out the principles of that polygamous document to their fullest import.
In the true spirit of Mohammed, Smith ignored all law, placed himself above all authority and could he have had his way there would have been an end to liberty in America.
We now give the testimony of David Fulmer, a member of the High Council in Nauvoo as given in Littlefield's tract.
| Territory of Utah, | ss |
| County of Salt Lake. |
Be it remembered that on this fifteenth day of June, A. D. 1869, personally appeared before me, James Jack, a notary public in and for said county, David Fulmer. who was by me sworn in due form of law and upon his oath saith, that on or about the twelfth day of August, A. D. 1843, while in meeting with the High Council, (he being a member thereof), in Hiram Smith's brick office, in the city of Nauvoo, county of Hancock, State of Illinois, Dunbar Wilson made inquiry in relation to the subject of a plurality of wives, as there were rumors about respecting it, and he was satisfied there was something in those remarks and he wanted to know what it was, upon which Hiram Smith stepped across the road to his residence, and soon returned bringing with him a copy of the revelation on celestial marriage, given to Joseph Smith, July 12, A. D. 1843, and read the same to the High Council, and bore testimony of its truth. The said David Fulmer further saith that to the best of his memory and belief, the following named persons were present: Wm. Marks, Austin A. Cowles, Samuel Bent, Geo. W. Harris, Dunbar Wilson, Wm. Huntington, Levi Jackman, Aaron Johnson, Thomas Grover, David Fulmer, Phineas Richards, James Allread and Leonard Soby. And the said David Fulmer further saith that Wm. Marks, Austin A. Cowles and Leonard Soby were the only persons present who did not receive the testimony of Hiram Smith, and that all the others did receive it from the testimony of the said Hiram Smith. And further, that the copy of said revelation on Celestial Marriage, published in the Desert News extra of September fourteenth, A. D. 1852, is a true copy of the same.
Subscribed and sworn to by the said David Fulmer the day and year first above mentioned.
James Jack, Notary Public.
Extract from a letter written by Thomas Grover:
"The High Council, of Nauvoo, were called together by the prophet Joseph Smith, to know whether they would accept the revelation on celestial marriage or not.
The presidency of the stake, Wm. Marks, Father Coles, and the late Apostle, Charles C. Rich, were there present . . . Brother Hiram Smith was called upon to read the revelation. He did so, and after reading it said: 'Now, you that believe this revelation and go forth and obey the same shall be saved, and you that reject it shall be damned.'"