Celestial Marriage
?
---------------------
IN THE CASE OF
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
vs.
Joseph Leslie Broadbent
* * *
Celestial Marriage ?
In the Case of LDS Church vs. Broadbent
* * *
Celestial Marriage
?
ON SALE AT
P.O. BOX 305 SALT LAKE CITY
OR
SHEPARD BOOK CO
SALT LAKE CITY
25 Cents Each, 5 for $1.00 Post Paid
(Stamps Not Acceptable)
[1] Celestial Marriage?
IS CELESTIAL MARRIAGE THE HEART OF MORMONISM?
IS CELESTIAL MARRIAGE PLURAL MARRIAGE, ie.; THE MARRIAGE OF ONE MAN
TO TWO OR MORE LIVING WOMEN, FOR ETERNITY, BY PROPER AUTHORITY?
WHAT SHOULD PROFESSING SAINTS DO ABOUT IT NOW?
"How ingenious and persevering men are in deluding themselves on the subject of religion; Since the time of Christ (Joseph Smith?) what countless devices have they framed to escape the lofty truths of His
Gospel! Nor are they satisfied with this, for every science has been ransacked for facts to neutralize all religion. Men's consciences will not permit them to throw off all forms of religion, and therefore they are satisfied if they can only tear out the heart. They like to preserve and embalm the external covering, as the naturalist does the skin of an animal for his cabinet, and as the latter fills his specimen with straw and arsenic, and fits glass eyes into it, so do men fill their religious specimens with error and vain speculation, fit into its head the eyes of false philosophy, and then claim for it intellectual worship." (Rev. Dr.
Hitchcock, in Religion and Geology)
"Whosoever is afraid of submitting any question, civil or religious, to the test of free discussion is more in love with his own opinion than with the truth. (Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 27, p. 90.)

"The man who cannot listen to an argument which opposes his views either has a weak position or is a weak defender of it. No opinion that cannot stand discussion or criticism is worth holding. And it has been wisely said that the man who knows only half of any question is worse than the man who knows nothing at all. He is not only one sided, but his partisanship soon turns him into an intolerant and a fanatic. In general it is true that nothing which cannot stand up under discussion is worth defending. (Improvement Era, Vol. 23, p. 204.)
"Hear it ye Elders of Israel, and mark it down in your log-books, the fullness of the Gospel is the united order and the order of plural marriage, and I fear that when I am gone, this people will give up these two principles which we prize so highly, and if they do, this Church cannot advance as God wishes for it to advance.' (Extract from sermon of
Brigham Young, at dedication of St. George Temple.)
[2] "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocracy; having their consciences seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry." (1st Timothy, 4, 1-3.)
"`The new and everlasting covenant of marriage which entitles a person to the highest degree of celestial glory is not plural marriage.
Plural marriage is wholly unlawful and wholly wrong,' declared Apostle
Ballard in his address Sunday morning.
"The Apostle was very emphatic in declaring that those who today are teaching the doctrine of plural marriage are out of harmony with the first
Presidency of the Church. He also declared that those who enter into plural marriages `are entering into contracts that are not of the Lord.'
"`The eternity of the marriage covenant is greater than plural marriage,' Apostle Ballard declared, He said that recently four members of the Church had been excommunicated because they had entered into plural marriages." (Ogden Standard-Examiner, Dec. 6, '26.)
"The Latter-day Saints were long regarded as a polygamous people.
That plural marriage has been practiced by a limited proportion of the people, under sanction of Church ordinance, has never since the introduction of the system been denied. But that plural marriage is a vital tenet of the Church is not true. What the Latter-day Saints call celestial marriage is characteristic of the Church, and is in very general practice; but of celestial marriage, plurality of wives was an incident, never an essential." (James E. Talmage, in The Story and Phillosophy of
Mormonism, p. 89.)
"OFFICIAL DECLARATION (MANIFESTO)
'To Whom it may Concern:
"Press dispatches having been sent for political purposes from Salt
Lake City, which have been widely published, to the effect that the Utah
Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized and that forty or more such marriages have been contracted in Utah since last June or during the past year, also that in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy.
"I, therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most calm manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice, and I deny that either forty or any other number of plural marriages have during that period been solemnized in our temples or in any other place in the territory.
[3] "One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the

Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.
"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise.
"There is nothing in my teachings to the Church or in those of my associates, during the time specified, which can be reasonably construed to inculcate or encourage polygamy; and when any Elder of the Church has used language which appeared to convey any such teaching, he has been promptly reproved. And I now publicly declare that my advice to the
Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land."
"Wilford Woodruff,
"President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Last edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 256. Does this read like a revelation as popularly supposed? Was the above document issued "for political purposes"--to aid the Territory in obtaining Statehood--among other reasons?)
"Q. Do you understand now that the manifesto covers that prohibition@@the prohibition against the association in plural marriage between those who had already entered into it at the time the manifesto was given against the contracting of future plural marriage relations? A.
Well, I do; I thought I had explained that; perhaps I might be unhappy in my expression, but as I said, the intention and scope of that manifesto was expressing President Woodruff's mind in regard to himself and every member of the Church, and that was, that the law should be observed in all matters concerning plural marriage, embracing the present condition of those who had previously entered into marriage. Is that a plain answer"
(Apostle Lorenzo Snow, in court, under oath, before Judge C.F. Loofbourow, the master in chancery, on October 19 and 20, 1891. Did not President
Woodruff, Joseph F. Smith and A.H. Lund and others also so testify on those same dates? How many of these men and many others, prominent and otherwise, had children by their plural wives, married other wives or married others in that principal after the manifesto?)
"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." (Isaiah 3, 12. In connection with the above might it not be profitable to study the balance of that chapter, the fore part of the 4th, and the 28th chapters?)
[4] "Here the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my names sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." (Isaiah 66, 5.)
"They accuse me of polygamy, and of being a false Prophet, and many other things which I do not know remember; but I am no false Prophet; I am no impostor; I have had no dark revelations; I have had no revelations from the devil; I made no revelations; I have got nothing up of myself.
The same God that has thus far dictated me and directed me and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and plural marriage, and the same God commanded me to obey it.
He said to me that unless I accepted it and introduced it, and practiced it, I, together with my people, would be damned and cut off from this time henceforth. And they say if I do so, they will kill me! Oh, what shall I do? If I do not practice it, I shall be damned with my people. If I do

teach it, and practice it, and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will. But, we have got to observe it. It is an eternal principle and was given by way of commandment and not by way of instruction."
(Joseph Smith, recorded in Contributor, Vol. 5, p. 259.)
"From him (Joseph Smith) I learned that the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on earth, and that without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the fullness of exaltation in celestial glory." (Extract from sworn statement of William Clayton, private secretary to the Prophet,
1874, Historical Record, Vol. 6, p. 226.)
"He (Joseph Smith) said that the Lord had revealed it unto him and commanded him to have women sealed to him as wives, that he foresaw the trouble that would follow and sought to turn away from the commandment, that an angel from heaven appeared before him with a drawn sword, threatening him with destruction unless he went forward and obeyed the commandment." (Extract from affidavit of Lorenzo Snow, Historical Record,
Vol 6, p. 222.)
"President Taylor spoke briefly, stating that he was present at a meeting of the leading authorities of the Church in Nauvoo, at which the subject of the revelation on celestial marriage was laid before them and unanimously received as of God. Joseph declared that unless it was received the Church could progress no further. Soon after he met the
Prophet Joseph, who, addressing the speaker, said the time had come when he must embrace the doctrine of plural marriage." (Pres. John Taylor in an address at Centerville. June 11, 1883, Historical Record, Vol. 6, p. 233.)
"At a meeting held in Plano, Illinois, Sept. 12, 1878, Apostle Orson
Pratt explained the circumstances connected with the coming forth of the revelation on plural marriage. He showed that Joseph Smith, the Prophet, had not only [5] commenced the practice of that principle himself, and further taught it to others, before President Young and the Twelve had returned from their mission to Europe, in 1841, but Joseph actually received revelation upon that principle as early as 1831." (Historical
Record, Vol. 6, p. 230.)
"If a man gets a fullness of the Priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord."
(Joseph Smith's Teachings, p. 42.)
"I have a few words to say concerning an item of doctrine that I seldom think of mentioning before a public congregation; I refer to the doctrine pertaining to raising up a royal Priesthood to the name of
Israel's God; for which purpose the revelation was given to Joseph, concerning the right of faithful Elders, in taking to themselves more than one wife. I frequently hear from others that the doctrine is laughed at and ridiculed; I heard yesterday of it being laughed out of doors, even jeered and sneered out of a Bishop's house. Once in a while sentiments reach my ears which sound very curious and strange, and when I hear them,
I do really wish that some were possessed of better sense, I will therefore, tell you a few things that you should know. God never introduced the Patriarchal order of marriage with a view to please the carnal desires, nor to punish females for anything they had done; but He introduced it for the express purpose of raising up a royal Priesthood, a peculiar people.
"It has been strenuously urged by many that this doctrine was introduced through lust, but that is a gross misrepresentation. This revelation which God gave to Joseph, was for the express purpose of providing a channel for the organization of tabernacles, for those spirits to occupy who have been reserved to come forth in the Kingdom of God, and

that they might not be obliged to take tabernacles out of the Kingdom of
God.
"Now, if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned; and I will go still further to say, take this revelation, or any other revelation, that the Lord has given, and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned. But the Saints who live their religion will be exalted." (Extract from a sermon delivered by Brigham Young, Provo, July 14, 1855,
Contributor, Vol. 5, p. 56.
"Will we unite with the plurality order of the ancient Patriarchs or will we consent, voluntarily, to be doomed to eternal celebacy? That is the true division of the question. One or the other we must choose. We cannot be married ..... for eternity, without subscribing to the law that admits a plurality of wives." (Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 226.)
"When God sets up any portion of His kingdom upon the earth, it is patterned after His own order in the heavens. When He gives to man a pattern of family organization on the earth, that pattern will be just like his own [6] family organization in the heavens. The family of Abraham was a transcript of a celestial pattern. . . .This family order of Abraham was spread, out before God, and met with His entire and full approbation.
And why did God approve of it? Because it is the only order practiced in the celestial heavens, and the only peaceful, united, and prosperous order that will endure, while man invented orders and devices will utterly deceive and perish with the using." (Orson Spencer, in Spencer's Letters, p. 193.)
"Joseph received a revelation on celestial marriage. . . .This doctrine was explained and many received it, as far as they could understand it. Some apostatized on account of it; but others did not, but received it in their faith. This also is a great and noble doctrine. . .
.They say, `this is rather a hard business. I don't like my husband to take a plurality of wives in the flesh.' Just a few words upon this. . .
.The people of God, therefore, have been commanded to take more wives. The women are entitled to salvation if they live according to the word that is given to them, and if their husbands are goodmen, and they are obedient to them, they are entitled to certain blessings, that they cannot receive unless they are sealed to men who will be exalted. Now where a man in this
Church says, `I don't want but one wife, I will live my religion with one,' he will perhaps be saved in the celestial kingdom; but when be gets there he will not find himself in possession of any wife at all. He has had a talent that he has hid up. He will come forward and say, `Here is that which thou gavest me. I have not wasted it, and here is the one talent,' and he win not enjoy it, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife, and he will remain single for ever and ever. But if the women is determined not to enter into plural marriage, that woman when she comes forth will have the privilege of living in single blessedness through all eternity.....
"Now sisters do not say, `I do not want a husband when I get up in the resurrection.' You do not know what you will want. I tell this so that you can get the idea. If in the resurrection you really want to be single and alone and live so for ever and ever and be made servants, while others receive the highest order of intelligence and are bringing worlds into existence, you can have the privilege. They who will be exalted cannot perform all the labor, they must have servants, and you can be servants to them." (Brigham Young in discourse at Paris, Bear Lake, Aug. 31, 1873.
Journal of Discourses. Vol. 22, p. 616.)
"Yesterday morning we imputed these words to Apostle Heber J. Grant:
`I am a lawbreaker; so is Bishop Whitney; so is B.H. Roberts. My wives have brought me only daughters. I purpose to marry until I get wives who

will bring me sons.'
"Last night the News had from Apostle Grant the following denial, `I have never made these remarks at any time either in public or private, in writing or by word of mouth.' The proof of the fact that Apostle Grant said what we [7] charge him with saying is easy. The remark was made by him in the Herald office in this city, in the presence of E. A. McDaniel,
Alfales Young, and J.H. Moyle, all good democrats, and two of them will never deny it. The remark was substantially as we gave it, and of so remarkable a character that it was taken down in writing and signed by two of those who heard it." (Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 8th, 1899.)
"The people of the world do not believe in breeding but we do. So the people of the world will die out and we will fill the whole earth. I admit that those raising children by plural wives are not complying with man-made laws, but in the sight of God they are not sinning, as there is no sin in it." (George Q. Cannon, at Sanpete Stake conference, Sept.,
1899. Smoot Investigation, Vol. 1, p. 9.)
"Joseph Smith told the Twelve that if the law was not practiced, if they would not enter into this covenant, then the Kingdom of God could not go one step further. Now, we did not feel like preventing the Kingdom of
God from going forward. We professed to be Apostles of the Lord, and we did not feel like putting ourselves in a position to retard the progress of the Kingdom of God. The revelation says, `all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.' Now, that is not my word, I did not make it. It was the Prophet of God who revealed that to us in Nauvoo, and I bear witness of this solemn fact before God, that he did reveal this sacred principle to me and others of the Twelve, and in this revelation it is stated that it is the will and law of God that `all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.' I had always entertained strict ideas of virtue, and I felt as a married man that this was to me, outside of the principle, an appalling thing to do. The idea of going and asking a young lady to be married to me when I had already a wife. It was a thing calculated to stir up feelings from the innermost depths of the human soul. I had always entertained the strictest regard of chastity. I had never in my life known a man deceiving a woman, and it is often done in the world, where, notwithstanding the crime, the man is received into society and the poor woman is looked upon as an outcast. I have always looked upon such a thing as infamous, and upon such a man as a villain.
Hence, with the feelings I had entertained, nothing but the knowledge of
God, and the revelations of God, and the truth of them, should have induced us to embrace such a principle as this. We (the Twelve) seemed to put off, as far as we could, what might be termed the evil day. Some time after these things were made known to us, I was riding out of Nauvoo on horseback, and met Joseph Smith coming in. he, too, being on horseback. I bowed to Joseph, and having done the same to me, he said, `Stop'; and he looked at me very intently. `Look here,' said he, `these things that have been spoken of must be fulfilled, and if they are not entered into right away the keys will be turned.' Well, what did I do? Did I feel to stand in the way of this great eternal principle, and treat lightly the [8] things of God? No. I replied: Brother Joseph, I will try and carry out these things. So indeed he did." (History of John Taylor, p. 99.)
"Father Abraham obeyed the law of the Patriarchal order of marriage.
His wives were sealed to him for time and all eternity, and so were the wives of the Patriarchs and Prophets that obeyed that law.
"I desire to testify as an individual and as a Latter-day Saint that
I know that God has revealed this law unto this people. I know that if we had not obeyed that law we should have been damned; the judgments of God would have rested upon us; the Kingdom of God would have stopped right where we were when God revealed that law unto us." (Wilford Woodruff, July
20, 1883. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 24, p. 244.)

"Why do Latter-day Saints practice polygamy? That is a plain question. I will answer it just as plainly. It is because we believe, with all the sincerity of our hearts, as has been stated by former speakers, from this stand, that the Lord God who gave revelations to Moses approbating polygamy has given revelations to the Latter-day Saints, not only approbating it but commanding it, as he commanded Israel in ancient times.....
"Now, after having said so much in relation to the reason why we practice polygamy, I want to say a few words in regard to the revelation on polygamy. God has told us Latter-day Saints that we shall be condemned if we do not enter into that principle, and yet I have heard now and then a brother or sister say, `I am a Latter-day Saint but I do not believe in polygamy.'
Oh, what an absurd expression! What an absurd idea! A person might as well say, `I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I do not believe in Him.' One is as consistent as the other. Or a person might as well say,
`I believe in mormonism, and in the revelations given through Joseph
Smith, but I am not a polygamist and I do not believe in polygamy.' What an absurdity. If one portion of the doctrines of the Church is true, the whole of them is true. If the doctrine of polygamy, as revealed to the
Latter-day Saints, is not true, I would not give a fig for all your revelations that came through Joseph Smith the Prophet; I would denounce the whole of them, because it is utterly impossible, according to the revelations that are contained in these books, to believe a part of them to be divine--from God--and a part of them from the devil; that is foolishness in the extreme; it is an absurdity that exists because of the ignorance of some people. I have been astonished at it. I did hope there was more intelligence among the Latter-day Saints, and a greater understanding of the principle than, to suppose that any one can be a member of this Church in good standing, and yet reject polygamy. The Lord has said that those who reject this principle reject their salvation, they shall be damned, saith the Lord; those to whom I reveal this law and they do not receive it, shall be damned. Now here comes in our consciences. We have either to renounce Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, Book of covenants, and the whole system of things as [9] taught by the Latter-day
Saints, and say that God has not raised up a Church, has not raised up a
Prophet, has not begun to restore all things as he promised, we are obliged to do this, or else to say, with all our hearts, `Yes, we are polygamists, we believe in the principle, we are willing to practice it, because God has spoken from the heavens.'
"Now I want to prophesy a little. It is not often that I prophesy, though I was commanded to do so when I was a boy. I want to prophesy that all men and women who oppose the revelation which God has given in relation to polygamy will find themselves in darkness the spirit of God will withdraw from them the very moment of their opposition to that principle, until they will finally go down to hell and be damned, if they do not repent. Now if you want to get into darkness, brethren and sisters, begin to oppose this revelation. Sisters, you begin before your husbands, or husbands you begin to say before your wives, `I do not believe in the principle of polygamy and I intend to instruct my children against it.'
Oppose it in this way, and teach your children to do the same, and if you do not become as dark as midnight there is no truth in Mormonism.......
"Do you not know that such marriages, (civil) are not sealed by him that is appointed by divine authority? They are not of God and are illegal in His sight, and your children are illegitimate in the sight of God. If you expect to have any benefits in eternity arising from your children, they must be yours legally, according to divine appointment, under a divine marriage. `What God has joined together let no man put asunder.'
But, what has God to do with it when a magistrate, who perhaps is an infidel, and does not believe in God at all, says to a man and woman,
`Join your hands together,' and then when they have done so, he says, `I pronounce you husband and wife.' What has God to do with such a marriage?
Has God joined them together? No, a civil magistrate has done it: and it

is legal so far as the laws of the country are concerned, and the children are legal and heirs to their parents' property so far as civil law is concerned, but what has God to do with it? Has he joined them together?
No, and the marriage is illegal, and in the sight of heaven, the children springing from such a marriage are bastards.......
"By and by they will build a polygamous city, and it will have twelve gates, and in order to place as much honor upon these gates as possible, they will name them after the twelve polygamous children that were born to the four polygamous wives of Jacob; and these good old polygamists will be assembled together in this beautiful city, the most beautiful city, that ever had place on earth.
"By and by some Christian will come along and he will look at these gates and admire their beauty, for each gate is to be constructed of one immense pearl. The gates are closed fast and very high, and while admiring their beauty he observes the inscription upon them. Being a Christian he of course expects to enter, but looking at the gates he finds the name of
Reuben inscribed on one of them. Says he, `Reuben was a polygamous child;
I will go on to the next, and see if there is the name of a monogamous child anywhere.' He accordingly visits [10] all the twelve gates, three on each side of the city, and finds inscribed on each gate the name of a polygamous child and this because it is the greatest honor that could be conferred on their father Jacob, who is in their midst, for he is to sit down with all the honest and upright in heart who come from all nations to partake of the blessings of that kingdom.
"But, says the Christian, `I really do not like this; I see this is a polygamous city. I wonder if there is not some other place for me? I do not like the company of polygamists. They are hated very badly back yonder. Congress hated them, the president hated them, the cabinet hated them, the Priest hated them, and everybody hated them, and I engendered the same hatred, and I have not got rid of it yet. I wonder if there is not some other place for me?' Oh yes, there is another place for you.
Without the city there are dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, adulterers, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Now, take your choice, Amen." (Extracts from a discourse by Orson Pratt, delivered at semiannual conference, Oct.
7, 1874. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 17, p. 223.)
"Again this testament which Joseph Smith left, contains a revelation and commandment from God, out of heaven, concerning the patriarchal order of marriage. The Lord has commanded us to have our wives and children sealed to us for time and eternity, that we may have them with us in our family organizations in the resurrection, to dwell with forever in the eternal worlds, that we may have an increase of posterity forever in connection with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and an the ancient patriarchs.
And God our heavenly Father, knowing that this is the only law, ordained by the Gods of eternity, that would exalt immortal beings to kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers and dominions, and heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ to a fullness of Celestial Glory, I say God, knowing these things; commanded Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and all
Latter-day Saints, to obey this law, `or you shall be damned,' saith the
Lord. Now, having obeyed the law for many years, the Congress of the
United! States, and the supreme judges of the nation, stand forth and say,
`You shall be damned if you do obey it.' Now, Latter-day Saints, what are we going to do under the circumstances? God says, `we shall be damned if we do not obey the law,' Congress says, `we shall be damned if we do.' It places us in precisely the same position that it did the Hebrews in the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the den of lions. The enemies of Daniel counciled together and said, `We cannot find any occasion against Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of God.' Our enemies have pursued the same course, . . . . and made it a law of offense to obey the laws of God. Now who shall we obey? God or man? My voice is that we obey
God.......
"The Congress of 1862, and the supreme judges of 1879, in their acts and decisions, have taken a dangerous and fearful step; their acts will

sap the very foundation of our government, and it will be rent asunder, and the God of heaven will hold them responsible for these things, . ....
The Constitution once broken by the rulers of the land, there will be no stopping place until the [11] nation is broken in pieces, and no power beneath the heavens can save this nation from the consequences thereof; and all the rulers of this nation will have to give an account unto the judge of all the earth for the use they make of the power put in their hands.
"Virtue exalteth a nation, while sin is a reproach to any people. . .
. . One thing we know, that we will not bow down and worship the golden image which thou hast set up. So say I, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ, I will not desert my wives and my children and disobey the commandments of God, for the sake of accommodating the public clamor of a nation steeped in sin and ripened in the damnation of hell.
"I would rather go to prison and to death. If I would not I would never be fit to associate with the Prophets and Patriarchs of old, and I could not in my heart but despise any man who professed to be a Latter-day
Saint, who would do otherwise. Why should we fear man who only has power to kill the body, more than him who has power to cast both soul and body into hell?. . . . . I would say to all Israel, treat your wives and children kindly, and keep the commandments of God and trust in Him, and He will fight your battles. And I will say, in the name of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, that Mormonism will prosper, Zion will flourish, and the Kingdom of God will stand in power and glory and dominion as
Daniel saw it, when this nation is broken to pieces as a potter's vessel and laid in the dust, and brought to judgment, or God never spoke by my mouth.......
"Joseph Smith proved to God, angels and men, that he would and did abide in his covenants unto death, and none of us shall be called to do anything more. We certainly, any of us, would be ashamed to deny the faith to accommodate our enemies, then meet the prophets and apostles in the spirit world. May God forbid that this should be the case with any of the blood of Ephraim." (Extracts from epistle of Wilford Woodruff, to the
Saints and all the world, Millennial Star, April 21, 1879, p. 242.)
"Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford, I, the Lord, have heard thy prayers, and thy request, and will answer thee by the voice of my
Spirit. Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the presidency of My Church, who hold the keys of the Kingdom of God on earth, I the Lord, hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation, and the destiny of all other nations of the earth, in mine own hands, and all that I have revealed and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live, shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand. Let not my servants who are called to the Presidency of my Church deny my word or my law which concerns The salvation of the children of men. Let them pray for the Holy Spirit which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek your destruction and the destruction of my people. If the
Saints will hearken unto my voice, and the council of my servants the wicked shall not prevail.
[12] "Let my servants who officiate your counselors before the courts make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit without any further pledges from my priesthood. I, the Lord, will hold the courts with the officers of government and the nation responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion. I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you this Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly. Search the scriptures for they are they which testify of me, also those revelations which I have given to my servant
Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are recorded in records of divine truth. Those revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under the heavens, which include Great Babylon, the judgments are at the door. They will be

fulfilled as God lives. Leave judgment with me, it is mine saith the Lord.
Watch the signs of the times and they shall show the fulfillment of the words of the Lord. Let my servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, retain the Holy Ghost as your constant companion, and act as you are moved upon by the Spirit, all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in inequity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God.
Great events await you and this generation, and are right at your doors.
Awake! O Israel, and have faith in God and his promises, and he will not forsake you. I, the Lord will deliver my Saints from the dominion of the wicked in mine own due time and way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessings nor judgments. Therefore let mine anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and not faint, exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God. Be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord are watching over you and your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly to reward every man, according to the deeds done in the body, even so Amen.
(Revelation given to Wilford Woodruff, Nov. 24th, 1889. In the light of the foregoing how are we going to view the Manifesto of 1890?)
"Until we can find some Law of God abolishing and prohibiting a plurality of wives, we are compelled to believe it a divine institution; and we are, furthermore, compelled to believe, that if this institution be entered into now, under the same principles which governed the Holy
Prophets and Patriarchs, that God will approbate it now as much as he did then; and that the persons who do thus practice it conscientiously and sincerely, are just as honorable in the sight of God, as those who have but one wife. And that which is honorable before God should be honorable before men; and no one should be despised when he acts in all good conscience upon any principle of doctrine." (Orson Pratt, in The Seer, p.
16.)
"Your honor; . . . . . . . . I have only this to say why judgment should not be passed upon me; I very much regret that the laws of my country should come in conflict with the Laws of God; but whenever they do
I shall invariably [13] choose to obey the latter. "(Apostle Rudger
Clawson, Nov. 3rd, 1884, at the time he was sent to the state prison. The
Martyrdom of Joseph Standing In connection with this might it not be profitable to study what Joseph F. Smith has to say under the heading, The
Laws of God and the Laws of the Land, p. 507, of Gospel Doctrine?)
"In private talk one evening with,
Our Seer and Prophet, Joseph Smith,
Before he shared the martyrs fate,
To me in solemn words did state;
To him an angel did appear,
Saying in language clear,
I hereby come for thee to warn;
While in his hand a sword was drawn;
To take thee wives, this law obey
Or God in anger will thee slay.
'Twas eighteen hundred forty-three,
This sacred Law was shown to me;
Which gives to man his loving wives,
God's only path to endless Lives!"
(Lorenzo Snow, while in state prison--1886.)
"Thus saith the Lord to the Twelve, and to the priesthood and people of my Church. Let my servants George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant be appointed to fill the vacancies in the Twelve, that you may be fully organized and prepared for the labors devolving upon you, for you have a great work to perform; and then proceed to fill up the presiding quorum of
Seventies, and assist in organizing that body of my priesthood who are your co-laborers in the ministry, you may appoint Seymour B. Young to fill

up the vacancy in the presiding quorum of Seventies, if he will conform to my law; for it is not meet that men who will not abide my law shall preside over my priesthood; and then proceed forthwith and call to your aid any assistance that you may require from among the Seventies to assist you in your labors in introducing and maintaining the gospel among the
Lamanites throughout the land. And then let High Priests be selected, under the direction of the First Presidency, to preside over the various organizations that shall exist among this people; that those who receive the gospel may be taught in the doctrines of my church and in the ordinance and laws thereof, and also in the things pertaining to my Zion and my kingdom, saith the Lord, that they may be one with you in my Church and my kingdom.
"Let the Presidency of my Church be one in all things; and let the
Twelve also be one in all things; and let them all be one with me as I am one with the Father.
"And let the Presidents of Stakes also purify themselves, and the priesthood and people of the Stakes over which they preside, and organize the priesthood in [14] their various stakes according to my law, in all the various departments thereof in the High Councils, in the Elders' quorums, and in the Bishops and their councils, and in the quorums of
Priests, Teachers and Deacons, that every quorum may be fully organized according to the order of my Church; and, then, let them inquire into the standing and fellowship of all that hold my holy priesthood in their several stakes; and if they find those that are unworthy let them remove them, except they repent; for My priesthood, whom I have called and whom I have sustained and honored, shall honor me and obey my laws, and the laws of my holy priesthood, or they shall not be considered worthy to hold my priesthood, saith the Lord. And let my priesthood humble themselves before me, and seek not their own will but my will; for if my priesthood, whom I have chosen, and called, and endowed with the spirit and gifts of their several callings and with the powers thereof, do not acknowledge me I will not acknowledge them, saith the Lord; for I will be honored and obeyed by my priesthood.
"And, then, I call upon my priesthood, and upon all of my people, to repent of all their sins and short-comings, of their covetousness and pride and self-will, and of all their iniquities wherein they sin against me; and to seek with an humility to fulfill my law, as my priesthood, my saints and my people; and I call upon the heads of families to put their houses in order according to the law of God, and attend to the various duties and responsibilities associated therewith, and to purify themselves before me, and to purge out iniquity from their households. And I will bless and be with you, saith the Lord, and ye shall gather together in your holy places wherein ye assemble to call upon me, and ye shall ask for such things as are right, and I will hear your prayers, and my spirit and power shall be with you, and my blessing shall rest upon you, upon your families, your dwellings and your households, upon your flocks and herds and fields, your orchards and vineyards, and upon all that pertains to you; and you shall be my people and I will be your God, and your enemies shall not have dominion over you, for I will preserve you and confound them, saith the Lord, and they shall not have power nor dominion over you; for my word shall go forth, and my work shall be accomplished, and my Zion shad be established, and my rule and my power and my dominion shall prevail among my people, and all nations shall yet acknowledge me. Even so, Amen." (Revelation given through President John Taylor, October 13,
1882. Life of John Taylor, p. 349. Formally passed on and accepted. Why hasn't this revelation been published in the Doctrine and Covenants?)
EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS OF PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
"October 13, 1882.
"We met in council at President Taylor's office. We heard the revelation read in which George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant were called to fill the vacancies [15] in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Seymour

Young to fill the vacancy in the First Presidency of Seventies.
"October 14, 1882.
"We held a meeting with the Presidency, Twelve Apostles and the
Presidents of Stakes. Remarks were made by President Taylor. Then the revelation was read. George Q. Cannon spoke to us and said, "How can we teach the people any law or principle that we do not keep ourselves?"
"Joseph F. Smith spoke upon several subjects, upon the patriarchal order of marriage.
"President Taylor told what Joseph Smith said to him upon that subject and said if we do not embrace that principle soon the key will be turned against us for if we do not keep the same law that our heavenly father has, we cannot go with him. The word of the Lord to us was that if we did not obey that law, we could not go where our Heavenly Father dwelt.
A man obeying a lower law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.
"W. Woodruff said he was glad the Quorum of the Twelve and Seventies were now to be filled and said that the reason why the Church and Kingdom of God could not progress if we did not receive the Patriarchal law of
Marriage is that it belonged to this dispensation as well as the Baptism for the dead and any law or ordinance that belongs to this dispensation must be received by the members of the church or it cannot progress. The leading men of Israel who are presiding over stakes will have to obey the law of Abraham or they will have to stop.
"E. Snow said that Joseph Smith said that `the parable that Jesus spoke of that the man who had one talent and hid it in the earth was the man who had but one wife and would not take another, would have her taken from him and given to one who had more."
(Was not "Abide my law" as given in revelation of 1882, above: interpreted to mean marriage of one man to two or more living women, and did not Seymour B. Young so act as also the brethren in reorganizing Stake
Presidencies and other presiding officers at that time to conform with that revelation?)
"My Son John: You have asked me concerning the new and everlasting covenant and how far it is binding upon my people. Thus Sayeth the Lord:
"All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name, unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant, for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abbrogated, nor done away with, but they stand forever.
"Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my laws and the keeping of my commandments, and yet have I borne with them these many years, and this because of their weakness, because of the perilous times, [16] and, furthermore it is now pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in regards to these matters.
"Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not, and as I have heretofore said: By my servant Joseph all those that would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law, and have
I not commanded men that if they were Abraham's seed and would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham?
"I have not revoked this law, nor will I for it is everlasting and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof. Even so, Amen." (Revelation to President John Taylor@@Sept. 27, 1886. While in hiding during "under-ground days." Original in John Taylor's own hand writing said to be in Church historian's office. Was not this revelation in answer to inquiry relative to the issuing of such a document as the
Manifesto of 1890?)
"There is a great deal said about our plural marriage by the outside world, and sometimes it is referred to by the Latter-day Saints at home. I fancy sometimes that not only is the world without knowledge in relation

to this principle, but many of those who profess to be Latter-day Saints are far from possessing a correct understanding of it.
"In the first place, it is a principle that savors of life unto life or death unto death, therefore it is well for those who have embraced the
Gospel to obtain a knowledge in relation to this matter. ...It is a principle that pertains to eternal life, in other words, to endless lives, or eternal increase, it is a law of the gospel pertaining to the celestial kingdom, applicable to all gospel dispensations, when commanded and not otherwise, and neither acceptable to God or binding on man unless given by commandment, not only so given in this dispensation, but particularly adapted to the conditions and necessities thereof.......
"We see trouble in families occasionally, not any more so in plural than in single families. There is no reason why there should be any difference between husband and wife, or husband and wives, in the midst of this people, if all are disposed to obey the principles and doctrines of the gospel. It is only by the practice of these principles that we can avoid the disturbances that occur in families.......
"Where differences exists in families they are traceable directly to some cause. I want to impress upon the minds of my hearers that the cause of such evils is not traceable to the practice of any principles which God has revealed touching these matters, but to the nonobservance of them
.......
"Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity, or non-essential to the salvation of mankind. In other words, some of the Saints have said, and believe that a man with one wife, sealed to him by the authority of the Priesthood for time and eternity, will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one, I wish here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I [17] know it is false. There is no blessing promised except upon conditions, and no blessing can be obtained by mankind except by faithful compliance with the conditions or law, upon which the same is promised. The marriage of one woman to a man for time and eternity by the sealing power, according to the law of God is a fulfillment of the celestial law of marriage in part. . . . . . . But this is only the beginning of the law, not the whole of it. Therefore, whoever has imagined that he could obtain the fullness of the blessings pertaining to this celestial law, by complying with only a portion of its conditions, has deceived himself. He cannot do it.
"To put this matter more correctly before you, I here declare that the principle of plural marriage was not first revealed on the 12th day of
July, 1843. It was written for the first time on that date, but it had been revealed to the Prophet many years before that, perhaps as early as
1832.......
"If then, this principle was of such great importance that the
Prophet himself was threatened with destruction, and the best men in the
Church with being excluded from the favor of the Almighty if they did not enter into and establish the practice of it upon the earth, it is useless to tell me that there is no blessing attached to obedience to the law, or that a man with only one wife can obtain as great a reward, glory or kingdom as he can with more than one, being equally faithful.......
"Man cannot receive the fullness of the blessings unless he fulfills the law, any more than he can claim the gift of the Holy Ghost after he is baptised without the laying on of hands by proper authority, or the remission of sins without baptism, though he may repent in sackcloth and ashes.......
"I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean that every man in this Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness, and will not, shall be damned, I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less, and I testify in the name of Jesus that it does mean that. .
. . . .
"The law is in force upon the inhabitants of Zion, and he that is qualified to obey it cannot neglect or disregard it with immunity, but it must be obeyed in righteousness. The commandment is `be ye righteous, be

ye holy as He is holy.' ......
"We will fulfill the law, and receive the blessings of exaltation and reward which will follow, if we do not, we will fail of the reward.". .
(Extracts of sermon of Joseph F. Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, p.
24.)
MARRIAGE COVENANT
"Do you, brother, (calling him by name) take sister, (calling the bride by her name) by the right hand, to be your lawful and wedded wife, and you to be her lawful and wedded husband, for time and for all eternity, with a covenant and promise, on your part, that you will fulfill all the laws, rites, and ordinances, pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, doing [18] this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice? (The bridegroom answers, yes). Do you, sister, (calling her by name) take brother, (calling him by name), by the right hand, and give yourself to him, to be his lawful and wedded wife for time and for all eternity, with a covenant and promise, on your part, that you will fulfill all the laws, rites and ordinances, pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice? (The bride answers, yes.) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Holy
Priesthood, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wife, for time and for all eternity; and seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives; and I seal upon you the blessings of thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers, and exaltations, together with the blessings of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; and say unto you, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all other blessings pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant! I seal upon your heads, through your faithfulness unto the end, by the authority of the
Holy Priesthood, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, Amen." (Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 214. If the marriage of one woman to a man for eternity constitutes celestial marriage, why the
"covenant and promise" to "fulfill all the laws, rites and ordinances, pertaining to this holy matrimony?" Again, why pronounce "the blessings of
Abraham", in the ceremony, if the works of Abraham are not contemplated in the "covenant and promise?" Doesn't this "covenant and promise" positively contemplate more? And if it does, and professing Saints fail, are they entitled to what is already given? If this "covenant and promise" contemplates and plurality of wives, are there any covenant breakers among professing Saints? Is there a one wife system in the heavens at all?)
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter in to this
Order of the Priesthood; (meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage;)
"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
"He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom: he cannot have an increase." (D. and C. Sec. 131, Verses 1-4).
"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired if my hand, to know and understand wherein
I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as also Moses
David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines:
"Behold! and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter:
[19] "Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law

revealed unto them must obey the same;
"For behold! I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant, and be permitted to enter into my glory;
"For all who will have a blessing at my hands, shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world:
"And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fullness thereof, must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the
Lord God." (D. and C. Sec. 132, Verses 1-6.)
"For straight is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world, neither do ye know me.
"But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation, that where I am, ye shall be also.
"This is eternal lives, to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye therefore, my law.
"Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths, and many there are that go in thereat; because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law." (D. and C. Sec. 132, verses 22-25.)
"Those who enter into the celestial kingdom are those who are of `the
Church of the First Born'; in other words, those who keep all commandments of the Lord. There will be many who are members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints who shall never become members of the `Church of the First Born,' spoken of in the great revelation called the vision.
If I understand it correctly the higher ordinances in the temple of God pertain to exaltation in the celestial kingdom." (Joseph F. Smith, Jr.,
Relief Society Magazine, Dec. 1918, p. 680.)
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
"Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?" (Jeremiah 23, verses 35, 37. Are professing Saints to take the revelations as their code, or what men in office or out, say and think?)
"To the law and testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (2nd Nephi 18, 20.)
"See to it that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in the [20] Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Lest innocent blood be found in your skirts, and you go down to hell." (Joseph Smith, Historical Record, Vol. 7, p. 468.)
"And if any man preach any other Gospel than that I have preached, he shall be cursed; and some of you who now hear me shall see it and know that I testify the truth concerning them. There is no error in the revelations which I have taught." (Joseph Smith, Historical Record, Vol.
7, p. 548.)
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
"Wherefore take upon you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians,

6, verses 10-14.)
MISCELLANEOUS
"Not one of these commandments of God, these gifts that have been bestowed, these keys of knowledge and of principle that have been restored and revealed unto us, through the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ordinance, should be violated in the least by the Latter-day Saints. They should be held in sacred reverence. We should hold them as we hold dear to the heart the most sacred thing to our souls, because they are God's commandments, and keys, his requirements made of us, and they are the pointing of the way, by the manifestations of the Spirit of the Lord unto us, in which we should walk, in order that we may become entitled to the greatest amount of happiness in this world, and in the world to come a fullness of joy. And by neglecting, slighting, and putting them aside, by turning away from the course which the Lord has marked out for us to pursue, we weaken ourselves, shear ourselves of our own strength, and deprive ourselves of the light needed to make us more efficient in the discharge of our duties as the children of God. We entered into covenants with the Lord that we will keep ourselves pure and unspotted from the world. We have agreed before God, angels and witnesses, in sacred places, that we will not commit adultery, will not lie, that we will not steal or bear false witness against our neighbor, or take advantage of the weak, that we will help and sustain our fellow men in the right, and take such a course as will prove most effectual in helping the weak to overcome their weaknesses and bring themselves into subjection to the requirements of heaven. We cannot neglect, slight or depart from the spirit. meaning, intent and purpose of these covenants an] agreements, that we have [21] entered into with our Father in Heaven, without shearing ourselves of our glory, strength, right and title to his blessings, and to the gifts and manifestation of His Spirit. The Lord teas given unto us garments of the holy priesthood, and you know what that means. And yet there are those of us who mutilate them, in order that we may follow the foolish, vain and
(permit me to say) indecent practices of the world. In order that such people may imitate the fashions, they will not hesitate to mutilate that which should be held by them the most sacred of all things in the world, next to their own virtue, next to their own purity of life. They should hold these things that God has given unto them sacred, unchanged and unaltered from the very pattern in which God gave them. Let us have the moral courage to stand against the opinions of fashion, and especially where fashion compels us to break a covenant and so commit a grievous sin." (Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era, Vol. 9, p. 812. Was the garment pattern revealed or was President Smith talking just to hear himself?)
"Conferring the Priesthood. The revelation in section 107, Doctrine and Covenants, verses 1, 5, 6, 7, 21 clearly points out that the
Priesthood is a general authority or qualification, with certain offices or authorities appended thereto. Consequently the conferring of the priesthood should precede and accompany ordination to office, unless it be possessed by previous bestowal and ordination. Surely a man cannot possess an appendage to the priesthood without possessing the priesthood itself, which he cannot obtain unless it be authoritatively conferred upon him.
"Take, for instance, the office of a deacon: the person ordained should have the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon him in connection with his ordination. He cannot receive a portion or fragment of the Aaronic priesthood, because that would be acting on the idea that either or both of the (Melchizedek and Aaronic) priesthoods were subject to subdivision, which is contrary to the revelation.
"In ordaining those who have not yet received the Aaronic priesthood, to any office therein, the words of John the Baptist to Joseph Smith, Jr., and Oliver Cowdery, would be appropriate to immediately precede the act of ordination. They are:
"Upon you my fellow servants (servant), in the name of Messiah, I

confer the Priesthood of Aaron."
"Of course, it would not necessarily follow that these exact words should be used, but the language should be consistent with the act of conferring the Aaronic Priesthood.--(Joseph F. Smith--Gospel Doctrine, p.
169. Do men, under the present form of ordination receive either the priesthood or the office?)
"I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." (Jeremiah, 23, 21.)
[22] ON PRIESTHOOD
"Perhaps it may make some of you stumble, were I to ask you a question--Does a man's being a Prophet in this Church prove that he shall be the President of it? I answer, no. A man may be a Prophet, Seer, and
Revelator, and it may have nothing to do with his being President of the
Church. Suffice it to say, that Joseph was the President of the Church, as long as he lived; the people chose to have it so. He always filled that responsible station, by the voice of the people. Can you find any revelation appointing him the President of the Church? The keys of the
Priesthood were committed to Joseph, to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth, and were not to be taken from him in time or in eternity; but when he was called to preside over the Church, it was by voice of the people; though he held the keys of the Priesthood, independent of their voice. I want the Elders of Israel to reflect upon this subject. I would be glad to teach you something, that you may not get into such snarls as heretofore.
You make me think of a child that is trying to make rope of a parcel of old thrums, until he gets the whole into snarls. It is so with the Elders of Israel as touching their ideas of the Priesthood: Now hear me, and I will try to talk so that you can understand. I will presume to go a little further than I did, with regard to the President of the Church, and say to this people, a man might have visions, the angels of God might administer to him, he might have revelations, and see as many visions as you could count; he might have the heavens opened to him, and see the finger of the
Lord, and all this would not make him the President of the Church, or an
Elder, a High Priest, an Apostle; neither would it prove that he was even a Saint: something else is wanted to prove it. Why I mention this, is because of the frailty, weakness, and shortsightedness of the people. If a man should come and tell you he had a vision, and could appear to substantiate his testimony that he had had the heavens opened to him, you would be ready to bow down and worship him; and he might be, at the same time, perfectly calculated to destroy the people@@one of the biggest devils on earth. He would appear to be one of the finest of men, to the honest and unassuming, and come with all the grace and generalship of the devil, which is so well calculated to deceive the people. Admit this to be the case. If you ask me what will prove a man or woman to be a Saint, I will answer the question. `If you love me,' says Jesus, `you will keep my sayings.' That is the touchstone. If you love the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father, you will keep the commandments of the Son@@you will do His will. If you neglect to do this, you may have all the visions and revelations that could be bestowed upon a mortal being, and yet be nothing but a devil. Why I use this expression is because when a man's mind is enlightened, and he turns from that light to darkness, it prepares him to be a devil. A man never knew how to be wicked, until light and truth were first made manifest to him. Then is the time for men to make their decision, and if they turn away from the Lord, it prepares them [23] to become devils." (Brigham Young, April 6, 1853, at general conference.
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 133. Is it possible, that a man holding the priesthood, can hold important keys, such as keys to Presidency, independent of the position of President of the church? Again, is it possible that a man might be President of the church by voice of the people only, and not hold these and other important keys?)

ON OBEDIENCE TO COUNCIL
"To what extent is obedience to those who hold the Priesthood required? This is a very important question, and one which should be understood by all Saints. In attempting to answer this question, we should repeat, in short, what we have already written, that willing obedience to the laws of God, administered by the Priesthood, is indispensable to salvation; but we would further add, that a proper conservative to this power exists for the benefit of all, and none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the Priesthood. We have heard men who hold the Priesthood remark, that they would do anything they were told to do by those who presided over them, if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly . . . . . . Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty (!) authority, have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the Saints were told to do by their Presidents, they should do it without asking any questions......
"We would ask, For what is the Priesthood given unto men? It is that they may have a right to administer the law of God. Have they then the right to make void the law? Verily no . . . . . It might be asked of all the laws of God, who has the right to make them void? None can revoke the decree but him by whom it was given; neither can the laws of God be trampled upon with impunity, or revoked by a lesser power than that by which they were framed......
"The day has come when every one may expect to answer for their own sins, without attempting to cloak them with another's Priesthood.
"Great is the responsibility of that man who is called to give council which involves the salvation of another; and when such council is given, it should be of that pure character, that the powers above him upon the earth, with angels and God, can approve.......
"Where the authority of God is, there should the confidence of all men be reposed, sufficiently to obey its laws, but not to violate them; .
. . . . . Some men have been so wise as to think the little authority they had was sufficient for them to set aside law and revelation, and mete out justice and judgment upon their own responsibility. But in the end they have found that responsibility to [24] be greater than they could bear."
(Editor of the Millennial Star, Nov., 1852, Vol. 14, p. 594.)
AGENCY
"It is given to us, as agents, to choose or refuse as Brother S. W.
Richards has set before you, but we are agents within limits; if it were not so there would be no law. There are limits to agency, and to all things and to all beings, and our agency must not infringe upon the law. A man must choose life or death, and if he chooses death he will find himself abridged, and that the agency which is given to him is so bound up that he cannot exercise it in opposition to the law, without laying himself liable to be corrected and punished by the Almighty. A man can dispose of his agency or of his birthright, as did Esau of old, but when disposed of he cannot again obtain it; consequently, it behooves us to be careful, and not forfeit the agency that is given to us. The difference between the righteous and the sinner, eternal life or death, happiness or misery, is this; to those who are exalted there are no bounds or limits to their privileges, their blessings have a continuation, and to their kingdoms, thrones, and dominions, principalities and powers, there is no end, but they increase through all eternity; whereas those who reject the offer, who despise the proffered mercies of the Lord, and prepare themselves to be banished from His presence, and to become companions of the devils, have their agency abridged immediately, and bounds and limits are put to their operations. The power of the devil is limited; the power

of God is unlimited; therefore let us be cautious how we use our liberty and agency, and be careful to choose that which is good and right before the Lord, and then our exaltation is sure." (President Brigham Young in a sermon, Provo, July 14, 1855. Contributor, Vol. 5, p. 56. If professing
Saints make a mockery of their agency do they stand in danger of losing it?)
Is Jeremiah, in the 23rd chapter of his book, from beginning to end, talking about professing saints of this day and time? In connection with this chapter read also Proverbs, Chap. 1, 24 to 33 inclusive.
"To get salvation we must not only do some things, but everything which God has commanded. Men may preach and practice everything except those things which God commands us to do, and will be damned at last. We may tithe mint and rue, and all manner of herbs, and still not obey the commandments of God. The object with me is to obey and teach others to obey God in just what He tells us to do. It mattereth not whether the principle is popular or unpopular, I will always maintain a true principle, even if I stand alone in it" (Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith's
Teachings, p. 149.)
[1] IN THE CASE OF
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
VS.
Joseph Leslie Broadbent
[2] PREFACE
In presenting the following record and affidavits with reference to the Broadbent case, the publishers are prompted only by the desire to aid in ascertaining the stand of those in authority on a principle that they have been taught to be the path which leads to exaltation in the Celestial
Kingdom of God. Is or is not that principle and practice a law of the Holy
Priesthood; is or is not that principle repudiated by the present attitude of the Church? Is or is not the revelation upon which it is founded a false gesture, should or should not that revelation be expurgated from the
Doctrine and Covenants?
This case in no sense involves the practice of plural marriage; but it does squarely raise the issue of the truthfulness or falsity of that doctrine. On that point there should be no evasion, for no man should be punished for his belief.
An answer to the questions submitted in the Broadbent Demurrer was refused. He was excommunicated solely for publishing the revelations of
God and the teachings of the servants of the Lord on the important principle involved. There was not even an accusation that he himself practiced it.
If any member of the Church is interested in maintaining the fidelity of his heritage, in preventing the repudiation of a holy revelation, and in encouraging the preservation of the doctrines of the Church in their original purity, he may in confidence write to the undersigned, who will not only hold that confidence inviolate, but also cherish the sincere sympathy and co-operation of the faithful.
PUBLISHERS.
Address all communication to P. O. Box 306, Salt Lake City, Utah.

[3]
Hugh B. Brown, President
Marvin O. Ashton, 1st Counselor
Stayner Richards, 2nd Counselor
Milton H. Ross, Clerk
Office of
GRANITE STAKE PRESIDENCY
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Deseret Bank Building
"It Can Be Done"
Lake City,
Utah.
CITATION
To J. L. BROADBENT,
Wasatch Ward, Granite Stake, Greetings:
Complaint having been duly made against you by Milton H. Ross, of
Granite Stake, a copy of which complaint is delivered to you herewith:
You are hereby cited to appear before the High Council of the Granite
Stake, at the Wasatch Ward Chapel, on Thursday, 11th day of July, 1929, at
7:30 P.M., with your witnesses to make answer to this complaint.
In the event of your absence, unless you can furnish good reason therefore, action must necessarily be taken in accordance with the evidence and the established procedure of the Church in such matters.
(Signed) H. B. BROWN,
President of Granite Stake.
We hereby certify that on the _____ day of July, 1929, we served a copy of this citation, together with a copy of the complaint referred to therein upon J. L. Broadbent.
COPY OF COMPLAINT
PRESIDENCY OF THE GRANITE STAKE OF ZION,
Dear Brethren:
I, Milton H. Ross, a member of record in the Granite Stake, hereby make to you a charge of unchristianlike conduct against J. L. Broadbent, in that he has published and circulated as author and compiler, a certain pamphlet, which reflects by intimation and insinuation upon the character, good name and integrity of the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and further that he is guilty of advocating the practice of plural marriage.
I respectfully request that the above named accused be called to answer this accusation before the High Council of the Granite Stake of
Zion.
(Signed) MILTON H. ROBS.
Signed in the presence of:
Witness:
(Signed) R. M. STEWART.
[4]
Hugh B. Brown, President
Ross,
Clerk
Marvin O. Ashton, 1st Counselor
Stayner Richards, 2nd Counselor
Salt
Milton H.

Office of
GRANITE STAKE PRESIDENCY
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Deseret Bank Building
"It Can Be Done"
Lake City,
Utah,
Mr. J. L. Broadbent,
1449 East 17th South,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear Brother:
We received word from you by telephone communication, that you would not be in the city on Thursday the 11th for the hearing of the case set for that date.
Please be advised, the hearing of this case has been adjourned for one week, and the High Council will meet at the Wasatch Ward Chapel
Thursday evening, July 18th, at 7:30 P.M.
Yours very truly,
GRANITE STAKE PRESIDENCY
H. B. BROWN. (Signed)
BEFORE THE GRANITE STAKE PRESIDENCY
In the Matter of
J. L. BROADBENT
DEMURRER AND DEMAND OF BASIC PRINCIPLES
Comes now J. L. Broadbent and enters his demurrer to the citation heretofore issued against him; and as ground for said demurrer alleges that said citation and the accompanying complaint do not state facts sufficient to constitute cause for excommunication against said J. L.
Broadbent.
Further replying to said citation and before entering upon the trial thereof the said J. L. Broadbent respectfully demands that he be informed of the Basic law and truth of the Church by having the following questions answered by the duly constituted authorities thereof:
1. Is the practice of plural marriage essential to salvation and exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God?
2. If not now was it ever so?
3. If it is so, according to the Revelations of God, by what authority has it been abrogated?
4. Can a law, fixed by a Revelation, be changed or modified by any edict of less authority than a Revelation?
5. Are the children of plural marriages legitimate in the eyes of the
Lord, as distinguished from the law of the land?
6. Is the Church's repudiation of plural marriage a mere acquiescence to civil law; if so, how may a faithful member abide by that great law?
[5] 7. Where in the revelations of God do we find any distinction between
Celestial and Plural Marriage.
8. Is it wrong to publish the Revelations or the public statements given through or by the Prophet Joseph Smith or his successors?
9. Is it by authority of the Church that the statement is made that plural marriage was an incident but never an essential part of Mormonism?
10. Isn't it a fact that since the Revelation of 1882 and in accordance therewith, but contrary to the laws of Congress and the Rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Reynolds case of 1879,
Bishops and Presidents of Stakes were required to enter into the practice of Plural Marriage, or resign their positions in the Church?
11. How is it possible for a law of God, entering into the plan of salvation, to change?
12. Isn't it a fact that leading Elders of the Church have entered
Salt
July 8, 1929.

into the practice of Plural Marriage under the sanction of either members of the First Presidency of the Church or of the Quorum of the Apostles since the Woodruff Manifesto of 1890?
13. Isn't it a fact that leading men and women who have entered into the practice of Plural Marriage since the Woodruff Manifesto of 1890 have been and still are sustained in leading positions in the Church, contrary to the rules and regulations thereof? And if so, in what way can the acts of the undersigned as alleged in the Complaint constitute grounds for excommunication?
The said J. L. Broadbent further requests that at the hearing of the case he be given the privilege of having a stenographer of Church standing in attendance for the purpose of making a definite record that may be used on Appeal if desired and later, if deemed wise, may be used to inform the body of the Church of the exact stand of the Authorities on the vital issues presented herewith.
(Signed) J. L. BROADBENT.
Signed in presence of:
(Signed) L. S. TAGGART.
I hereby acknowledge service of the above Demurrer and request this 15th day of July, 1929.
(Signed) H. B. BROWN.
President of Granite Stake of Zion.
AFFIDAVIT OF FRED G. BARKER
State of Utah,
County of Salt Lake
At the request of J. L. Broadbent, I appeared at the Wasatch Ward, and made known to President Brown that I had been asked by Brother
Broadbent to report the proceedings of his hearing before the High
Council, and signified to President Brown that I would do so if permitted by him. President Brown then informed me that F. W. Otterstrom had been engaged to report the proceedings and that he saw no purpose in having a double report made, that Brother Broadbent would be furnished a copy of the report made by Otterstrom, and he thought Brother Broadbent would have no objection to accepting Otterstrom's report as fair and accurate. I told him I felt the same way about it, and that I saw no object in increasing
Brother Broadbent's expense by having me report it.
[6] When Brother Broadbent arrived, President Brown and I were finishing our conversation, and we repeated substantially what I have stated above:
President Brown that Brother Broadbent would have a copy of the proceedings, and I that I could see no object in making a double report.
I did not feel under the circumstances that it was either appropriate or desireable for me to remain, and so I left before any of the proceedings were commenced.
(Signed) FRED G. BARKER.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of July, 1929.
(Seal) REG. W. ANDERSON,
AFFIDAVIT OF L. S. TAGGART, MORONI JESSOP, AND
JOHN Y. BARLOW
In Case of the
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Notary Public.
vs.
JOSEPH LESLIE BROADBENT
State of Utah,
County of Salt Lake ss.
L. S. Taggart, Moroni Jessop, and John Y. Barlow, each being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says:

At the request of Joseph Leslie Broadbent I appeared at the Wasatch
Ward Chapel with him as one of his witnesses at the trial before the High
Council of Granite Stake on July 18, 1929.
On entering the chapel I met Fred G. Barker, an official stenographer, and who as on his way from the Church. Brother Barker told me that Brother Hugh B. Brown had informed him that F. W. Otterstrom had been engaged by him to report the ease officially, and that it would not be necessary for Brother Broadbent to pay the expense of a private stenographer, as he would be given a copy of the entire proceedings as reported by Brother Otterstrom.
Whereupon, Brother Broadbent requested Brother Barker to return and stay at least until President Brown had agreed to make the fact a part of the record of the proceedings, that he, Brown, had denied the privilege to
Brother Broadbent of having his own reporter present at the trial.
Brother Broadbent and I, with his other witnesses, then proceeded to the Council Room and presented the matter to President Brown who agreed that it should be made a part of the record that Brother Broadbent was denied the privilege of having his own reporter at the trial; Brother
Brown stating that he did not think two reporters were necessary, as it would look too much like we didn't trust one another, but that Brother
Broadbent would be furnished with a transcript of the entire proceedings in detail.
The above is substantially what took place in my presence upon the occasion mentioned. (Signed) L. S. TAGGART,
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah.
(Signed) MORONI JESSOP,
(Signed) JOHN Y. BARLOW.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of July, 1929.
(Seal) (Signed) J. W. MUSSER,
Notary public
[7] NOTICE OF EXCOMMUNICATION
This is to certify that by action of the High Council of the Granite stake of Zion at a special session held Thursday, July 18, 1929, Joseph
Leslie Broadbent, heretofore a member of record in the Wasatch ward of said stake was excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints for conduct violative of the law and order of the
Church, specifically with reference to plural marriage.
MILTON H ROSS,
Clerk of the High Council of the Granite stake of Zion.
--The Deseret News, Friday, July 19, 1929.
AFFIDAVIT OF L. S. TAGGART AND MORONI JESSOP
In case of the
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
vs.
JOSEPH LESLIE BROADBENT
State of Utah,
County of Salt Lake ss.
L.S. Taggart and Moroni Jessop, each being duly sworn upon oath deposes and says:
I attended the hearing of Joseph Leslie Broadbent before the Granite
Stake Presidency and High Council in Wasatch Ward Chapel, Salt Lake City, on July 18,1929, being present as one of Brother Broadbent's witnesses.
Soon after the opening song and prayer, and after Brother Fred G.
Barker, who had been retained by Brother Broadbent as his stenographer had left the chapel, I heard Brother Hugh B. Brown tell Brother Broadbent that he would not be given a report of the proceedings, and gave his excuse for denying Brother Broadbent that privilege.
At about the same time President Brown read from a letter represented to be from President Rudger Clawson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

addressed to President Brown, charging Brother Broadbent with publishing and circulating as author and compiler a certain pamphlet (Celestial
Marriage?), which reflects by intimation and insinuation upon the character, good name and integrity of the authorities of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and further that he is guilty of advocating the practice of plural marriage.
Whereupon Brother Broadbent requested that all the letter be read and placed in the record. This Brother Brown refused, but said it would be attached to and made a part of the record.
Brother Broadbent then stated that he was present for the moment in answer to Citation only and not for the purpose of pleading, that before he could plead he wished a written answer to his Demurrer and Written
Request, presented to President Brown some few days previously. He also desired an adjournment of the case for two weeks to enable him to prepare a proper defense. An answer to Brother Broadbent's request and demurrer, either written or otherwise, including an adjournment of the case for two weeks to enable him to prepare a proper defense, were unanimously denied by vote of the Presidency and High Council.
[8] Brother Broadbent then requested before the taking of testimony the privilege of consulting with the six High Councilmen that were to represent him in his defense; that the consultation be permitted to be had in privacy, and that an adjournment of five minutes be accorded him for the purpose of such consultation. This request was denied by the
Presidency.
Whereupon Brother Broadbent then proceeded with the consent of
President Brown to question the six brethren who had been appointed to look after his defense--this being done before the entire body.
He asked each one of the brethren if they had read the little book which was responsible for bringing out the complaint in the case. They all said that they had received copies, but only one had read it, and he only in part. One confessed having received the book, but had thrown it in the fire.
Brother Broadbent then asked them if they felt competent to act in the case or pass judgment since they were not familiar with the contents of the book. He also asked them if they were prepared to vote their conscience irrespective of the decision of the Stake Presidency or the request of the General Authorities of the Church.
Receiving no satisfactory answer to these questions, Brother
Broadbent charged high-handed procedure against the Stake Presidency and
High Council on the grounds that President Brown had received his orders to act irrespective of the merits in the case. This charge went undenied.
During the process of the trial it was admitted by President Brown and made a part of the record that it wasn't a question of whether Brother
Broadbent was right or wrong, but solely a question of harmony with the
Authorities of the Church, and the church rules governing in such matters.
Being asked if it wasn't the right of the Church to make rules and regulations and adopt policies to govern its membership, Brother Broadbent answered that in his opinion it was the right of any Church to do so, but just to the extent that any church made rules and regulations and adopted policies that ran counter, or had the effect of nullifying revelations given by Almighty God for the government of said Church and for the salvation and exaltation of its members, just to that extent that Church was apostate.
After the witnesses had been heard on behalf of Brother Broadbent he was given a few minutes to speak before judgment was passed. Among other things he said according to the revelation of 1882 to President John
Taylor calling Heber J. Grant to the Apostleship, and the interpretation put on that revelation the following day by President Taylor and his associates, the Patriarchal Order of Marriage--Plural Marriage, if you please--was a law of the Priesthood, and that to conform thereto the authorities proceeded to remove Presidents of Stakes, Bishops of Wards,
Presidents of quorums, etc., who had not and would not enter that practice, replacing them by men that had or would comply with the law.

This procedure took place up to the time of President Taylor's death some five years after.
Brother Broadbent stated that if this were true@@that that principle and practice was a law of the Priesthood at that time@@it still remained a law, and that those present taking part in any way against the upholding of that principle would thereby commit an offense against the Priesthood and the law of the Priesthood, and in so doing were in danger of repudiating the Priesthood they claimed to hold.
[9] He further stated that one of the primary objects of his coming to the trial was to warn them as a servant of the Living God that if they took any such action, they thereby repudiated their Priesthood.
He further testified that he knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be true as well as any man could know it by the testimony of the Spirit.
After judgment of excommunication was passed, by the uplifting of the right arm of every man of the Council and the Stake Presidency, Brother
Broadbent was again given an opportunity to say a few words. He then referred to the charge of high-handed procedure which he had intimated was the case before the trial commenced and which was challenged by certain members of the High Council, and he, Brother Broadbent, now charged that each member of the High Council was guilty of high-handed procedure in this case and of prostituting the cause of justice for two reasons: First, denying Brother Broadbent a copy of the record in accordance with the solemn promise to supply him with the record before the trial commenced.
And second, their admission that their action was not based upon the question of whether or not Brother Broadbent was right or wrong, but simply upon the question of his being out of harmony with Church rules.
He further stated that their action had repudiated the Priesthood they claimed to hold, and he thanked God that his faith was not pinned to any man's coat tail, and further thanked God that there was one Judge--the great Judge of all--who had the integrity of the law at heart.
The above is in substance the proceedings as they took place in my presence and in accordance with my best recollections.
(Signed) L. S. TAGGART
(Signed) MORONI JESSOP.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of July, 1929.
(Seal) (Signed J. W. MUSSER,
Notary Public.
Residing in Salt Lake City, Utah.
AFFIDAVIT OF J. L. BROADBENT AND L. S. TAGGART
State of Utah,
County of Salt Lake ss.
Joseph Leslie Broadbent and L. S. Taggart, being first duly sworn, depose and say that they personally appeared at the office of the First
Presidency on the 26th day of July, 1929.
Said Broadbent addressed himself to Joseph Anderson, who stated he was the private secretary of President Heber J. Grant, the said Broadbent requesting the privilege of seeing President Grant personally.
Said Anderson inquired the nature of our business and was informed by said Broadbent that he had come to request a transcript of the proceedings against him, held before the Granite Stake Presidency and High Council on
July 18, 1929.
Said Joseph Anderson stated that President Grant was in but it was up to the High Council of the Stake to take care of such matters.
Whereupon, said Broadbent stated the Granite Stake authorities had denied him a copy of the proceedings, although they had previously promised him one.
[10] Whereupon said Anderson stated that the High Council had full jurisdiction in the matter, and that President Grant could do nothing further.

Asked by Broadbent if he was authorized to speak for President Grant in this matter the said Anderson answered "yes," and denied the privilege of a personal interview and also a copy of the transcript.
This is substantially true to the best of our recollection.
(Signed) J. L. BROADBENT,
(Signed) L. S. TAGGART.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of July, 1929.
(Seal) (Signed) J. W. MUSSER,
Notary Public.
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah.
34. Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35. Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson:
36. That the rights of the Priesthood are inseparately connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority of that man.
38. Behold! ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks; to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39. We have learned, by sad experience, that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. (D. & C., Sec.
121:34-41).
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! .... Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people ...." (Isaiah, 5:20-25).
[11] "The way of peace they know not and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither cloth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the
Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." (Isaiah, 59:8-16).

And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth; And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in
Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world, and all this that it might be fullfilled, which was written by the prophets, The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh, But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Saviour of the world; That faith also might increase in the earth That mine everlasting covenant might be established, That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers. (D. & C., I:13-24).
"Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word, Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." (Isaiah, 66:5).