Mormon History
Brigham Young Versus William Smith - 1845
Warsaw Signal – October 22, 1845
PATRIARCH BILL SMITH'S PROCLAMATION.
We have received an extraordinary document,
entitled a 'Proclamation,' signed by William Smith, Patriarch, and one of the
Twelve. The object which Smith appears to have in view, is to expose the conduct
of the present corrupt leaders of the Church; and to put them down, and build up
himself. He speaks of Brigham Young as a tyrant, unsurpassed by any that has
existed since the days of Nero -- complains bitterly of the treatment which he
and the Smith family generally, have received from his hands, and denounces him
as an usurper.
In this document, Smith repudiates the Spritual Wife Doctrine, and accuses
Young, Taylor, and Heber C. Kimball, of introducing this doctrine and its
corrupt practices, into the Church. He urges his opposition to this doctrine as
one of the reasons for the enmity of Young and his associates against him.
He intimates that Toung was concerned in the murder of Irvine Hodges, and that
the two Hodges who were hung in Burlington, were no more gulity than the heads
of the Mormon Church, who had them given up to save themselves.
Altogether, this expose of Smith's is full of interest, and rich in
developments, -- which all tend to confirm the accusations repeatedly brought
against the Mormons by their neighbors.
As we propose next week to give it in full to our readers, a more extended
notice is at present unnecessary.
Warsaw Signal – October 29, 1845
A PROCLAMATION.
And faithful Warning to all the Saints
scattered around in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Salem, New Bedford, Jewell,
Peterborough, Gilsom, St. Louis, Nauvoo, and elsewhere in the United
States;.Also to those residing in the different parts of Europe and in the
Islands of the seas.
To all such, your Father and Patriarch sends this Greeting --
He speaks to you in the spirit of love and christian kindness, believing it a
duty he owes to his God, to do all he can to save from spiritual ruin the
thousands of his friends and fellow mortals, whom misrepresentation and false
pretension may contrive to lead astray from the pure and holy paths of
righteousness as pointed out by our church.
I take this course towards my brethren in all meekness of spirit, patience, and
forbearance, without aught of malice or revenge, that they may understand the
true reason of my silent course of conduct during the last summer, and the cause
of my present position.
I will state unequivocally at the outset, that it is my firm and sincere
conviction, that, since the murder of my two brothers, usurpation and anarchy,
and spiritual wickedness in high places, have crept into the church, with the
cognizance and acquiescence of those whose solemn duty it was to guardedly watch
against such estate of things. Under the reign of one whom I may call a Pontius
Pilate, under the reign I say of this B. Young, no greater tyranny ever existed
since the days of Nero. He has no other justification than ignorance to cover
the most cruel acts -- acts disgraceful to anyone bearing the stamp of humanity;
and this being has associated around him, men, bound by oaths and covenants, who
are reckless enough to commit almost any crime, or fulfill any command that
their self-crowned "head" might give them.
At the time of the death of my two brothers, I was laboring with all my energies
in the eastern cities, where I had been busily engaged for about three years,
under the direction and advice of my brother Joseph, when a letter reached me
from Willard Richards, who was acting as church clerk and one of the Twelve,
advising me not to return to the scene of the recent and events in the west, as
it might continue the excitement, and endanger not only my own life, but the
lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the Saints; such also was the advice
and counsel of many of my friends. This advice, together with a sick family on
my hands, influenced me to remain still a while longer in the east. In the
meantime, as all the Saints well know, I was engaged in publishing a paper in
New York entitled "The Prophet," got up by my own labors and carried on with as
much earnest zeal as I could possibly employ upon it. All at once, early in the
spring, whom should I encounter but Mr. Parley P. Pratt, who had come on from
the west, with specific authority from the quorum of the Twelve, to take charge
of all the printing, etc., without a single provision with respect to my own
personal rights, relative to any outlay I had subjected myself to in getting up
the paper, materials for printing, etc. etc.; to take charge, also, of the
entire presidency of the Eastern Churches; while, at the same time, the right of
the presidency was held by a joint occupancy in the quorum of the Twelve. In
consequence, however, of my wife's health continuing very precarious, I
concluded to leave that scene of action and return to Nauvoo, leaving all in the
hands of Parley P. Pratt, and S. Brennan, which latter had been heretofore a
friend. I must confess that the whole of this proceeding appeared to me very
much like a deep laid plan to get the power of everything under their own
control. Still I was extremely reluctant to believe my brethren so ungrateful
men with whom I had been associated so long, being more over willing to obey
council, I gave all up, and trusted to their own honesty. -- On my return,
however, my suspicions were strengthened, for I found that, for some frivolous
cause, the "Twelve" had cut off a brother of the name of G. J. Adams, who it was
well known was a strong and sincere friend of mine and also S. Brennan. Still I
was anxious to get rid of my suspicions, and I set about making the most minute
enquiry into the matter, but no substantial reason presented itself for the
course taken. Brennan was soon restored. It appeared to me, from these various
circumstances, strongly suspicious that these [assumers] of power intended
nothing more or less than to render me powerless. Still I struggled on, hoping
for the best, and that all things would come out right eventually, and I held my
peace, -- when on coming into council with the brethren, I was asked "are you
satisfied, brother William?" evidently manifesting thereby a suspicion on their
part that it was not likely I could possibly be so, and that all had not been
right. Yet I replied that I was willing to abide the council of my brethren and
be satisfied for a season. They assumed a friendly feeling and would frequently
mention what they intended to do, and what is was in their hearts to do, for me
and the rest of the Smith family. Soon I spoke on the stand, but with very
oppressed feelings, which, however, I always endeavored not to disclose, while
news was arriving from the east, by letters and various other ways, to the
Council; and others, containing eulogiums on the boasted righteousness of Parley
P. Pratt, and condemning the acts of his predecessors in the preaching and
government of the church in that section of the country, when it is well known
by all the eastern Saints that when those men went on all was peace and harmony,
and that I had labored hard for three years to build up the church, and for the
last year to wrest it from the influence of "Rigdonism." And further it can be
proved that B. Young and P. P. Pratt were the first to preach and to practice
the "spiritual wife" doctrine, in the city of Boston and other places, my
descent from any such doctrine of course gave annoyance, as did also my
exclaiming against the too common practice among the elders of using profane
oaths. I earnestly appealed to them as to whether it could possibly by consonant
with the garb of a minister of the gospel, of those who build Temples and Nauvoo
Houses, thus to indulge in improper swearing. That the Lord would not prosper
their proceedings in such a spirit, nor would they inherit a temporal or
spiritual salvation. In this appeal I was opposed by John E. Page. On another
occasion I spoke in behalf of sister Emma, and the claims of the Smith family,
but this was generally laughed at. I opposed also the whittling, whistling, and
beastly anointing, practiced upon strangers, and driving away from Nauvoo the
doctors and lawyers, telling them, which I did in a spirit of warning, that such
courses must bring swift destruction on the people. In return for these good
intentions I was called a dissenter, and the charge brought against me of trying
to raise a division in the church. My remarks had little or no effect, for again
and again it was repeated on the stand by Kimble, Young, Taylor, and others,
that lawyers must leave, for it was then a time of peace, and that if they did
not they should be offered as a sacrifice of smoking meat, as was practiced by
the heathens in ancient times, to appease the wrath of some evil spirit, and
that as for the doctors they were all a perfect nuisance. To all these
elevated and charitable thoughts and expressions, the congregation responded
"Amen." All this was entirely repugnant to my feelings and I could not avoid
manifesting my dissent; the consequence was, that I was informed I had better
look out, or I should be cut off from the church. It was a sacrifice indeed to
be silent.
It was about this time that the Hodge affair took place, and I verily believe
that the very men who were engaged in that horrid murder were the most efficient
in doing all they possibly could to get the Hodges' hanged, and to get Amos
Hodge into the territory of Iowa, that he might share the fate of his brothers,
whether guilty or not. But to return to the matters of the church, I published a
short notice on the subject of the office of patriarch: very soon it was scanned
and criticised, and without even my knowledge or consent, the office declared to
be equal only to any common father over his family; which was all a perfect
burlesque on common sense, robbing me of my lawful rights in the Smith family,
rights by lineage, etc. The phrase "rights by lineage" become a common byword, a
matter of sport on the stand, and in private council a laugh. Mother Smith's
mind being greatly wrought upon by these troubles, was carried away in a vision,
and on her relation of what she had seen. Brigham Young had the refinement of
feeling and consideration to ridicule on the stand the whole matter and
marveled that the church could entertain for a moment the crazy manifestations
of an old woman. Such remarks, be it borne in mind, proceeded from one who
pretends to hold the key of telling where the royal blood is, and claims a
standing at the head of a church raised up by a prophet, of whom mother Smith
was the parent, and which mother had passed through whole seas of affliction. A
copy of this vision will soon appear, and then we shall see and understand the
value of the priesthood of that individual who can thus talk of mother Smith, as
also of the propriety of a certain John Smith and others who find it to their
interest to ridicule rather than reflect. But to return from this digression. I
took it upon me to counsel the police of the city, advise them to be more
merciful, and not hasten men into Iowa to be hanged, but to give them a chance
with others whom I believe to be equally guilty. I received for answer to my
advice and counsel, from one of the police, that he did not care a d__n for
anything I had to say; that he had received his instructions, and should carry
them out. Although some words passed on the occasion, I believe this particular
member of the police was innocent of any intentional harm. The result again of
this was, that I was cautioned to look out for my life.
A horrid circumstance took place on the following evening, which I must relate.
-- Arvine [sic] Hodge was crossing a field-path to his lodgings, when he was
waylaid and killed, being cut, beat, and mangled in a most shocking manner,
within twenty rods of Brigham Young's house, which at the time was surrounded by
his own personal police guard, who, as some of them acknowledged, stood within
fifty yards of where the murder was committed, and distinctly heard the
murderous blows, and the cries of the victim. Sister Young, also, said that she
heard them more than once. Young was not at home when the deed was done, but, it
is said that in honor to him the murdered man with cries for help, ran some
twenty rods, and fell in the road before the house and expired.
It is said that although he had his senses til the last, he would say no more
about his murderer than that he was a friend; and called on Young to lay hands
upon him. This story was told by Young's police, who, be it remembered, stood
within fifty yards of where this awful murder was perpetrated, who heard the
blows given, and also the cries for help, but who, at the same time, saw no man
or men, who could have performed the awful deed.
It will be recollected that, on the examination, it was ascertained that Arvine
Hodge had received four fatal stabs in the side, each blow sundering a rib, and
sufficient to cause instant death, besides the appearance of cruel bruises made
by heavy clubs upon the head. It is true no doubt that he struggled hard for
life, but is it probable, I would ask, that with such fatal wounds from the
knife, and heavy blows from the assassin's clubs, that he could have retained
physical strength enough to run for aid, or mental power enough to ask for the
laying on of hands? And especially for one whom he had every reason to believe
to be his most inveterate enemy? It was at this juncture of these sad
proceedings, that the information reached my ears, advising me to keep a good
guard about my house, or I might very probably share the fate of Arvine Hodge.
In consequence of such information, I summoned my kind friends who watched over
my safety for two or three weeks; The necessity of my doing this prompted me to
write a letter to B. Young, stating to him that I did not feel my safe in the
hands of his police. The answer returned to me was from John Taylor, to the
effect that I should meet the council the same day at six o'clock in the
evening. Accordingly at the hour specified, I repaired to the place of meeting,
not expecting, however, to find any one present save the "Twelve," or the
Bishops. But on entering the room on the third story of the Masonic Hall, what
was my surprize to find some fifty or sixty policemen all armed with their Bowie
knives, pistols, and hickory clubs. How much more too, was my surprize, when
after my entrance I found the door guarded, and the man whom I had supposed a
particular friend of mine, chuckling with sparkling eyes to think he had me in
his power.
I was called upon by Brigham Young to make known my grievances. I answered the
call, and in fervent tones both long and loud, spoke of my grievances and of my
two brothers' deaths, and of the almost entire desolation of the remnant of my
father's family; -- that I had returned from a long mission, and wished to
settle in the land of my ancestors, and that where the bodies of my brother's
lay, I wished to live in peace, and claim the protection due to me. I told them
that I considered my right to teach the church altogether unimpeachable; as was
also my right to counsel the police, and to assist in controlling the public
sentiment. Further, that if the brethren did not want me or my councils, to
announce such a sentiment and I would leave them. Let, said I, the Twelve say so
-- Let the Bishops say so -- Let the police say so, and I am gone! But mark it,
said I, where I go, there also the Smith family go, and with them also goes the
Priesthood.
After I had spoken for nearly an hour to the foregoing purpose, Brigham Young
arose, and although when he came into the room he had given me his hand, with a
smiling countenance, launched forth in the following strain, with boisterous
boldness:
"I will let William Smith know that he has no right to counsel this church, for
I am the man! I will let William Smith know also, that he shall not counsel the
police; furthermore, that where the Smith family goes the church will not go,
nor the priesthood either! And I will let William Smith know that I am the
president and head of this church" and strange to say all the police and the
bishops, and the "Twelve" who were present, said thereunto, "amen." The
conclusion I drew from all this was, that it was an intentional hint to me that
I had better leave. Furthermore he stated that Joseph Smith had revealed to him
a mystery concerning the Royal Blood, that none of the rest of his brethren knew
anything about; that little Joseph his eldest son was not the prophet of the
church, nor ever would be, and that if he were to say so, it would be aiming a
dagger at his life's blood. What reflection could possibly suggest itself to me,
after such a statement? What else then that he was an ambitious and an
ungrateful tyrant? It was now almost dark when I arose and made a few
corrections -- the brow-storm grew more palpable, not a smile, not a pleasant
look greeted me, as I looked around on my old associates. Among those in the
house I observed fifty or sixty of my well known brethren, but not one smile,
amen, or consoling word reached me. I tempered my remarks as well and as
charitably as I could: which forbearance was answered with remarks from Young to
the effect that the police were good men, and obedient to the council.
Various circumstances induced me to believe myself hedged in, and I looked at
the door, and at the window, but with a very faint hope of escape; it was death
to jump from the window, and the armed police prevented all escape from the
door, so I sunk back and cried in the very agony of spirit, "Lord have mercy
upon me, and deliver me from the evil hands of those who plot against me." At
this juncture Brigham Young said, "if brother William agrees to uphold the
police, and make himself one with them, why they, the police would uphold him."
To this I agreed and obtained a vote for my protection. It was now quite dark,
and wagons and carriages were all in readiness, so that with the greatest
ease I could have been sent on a long mission, to preach the Gospel. It was
at this time that I determined to leave to city as soon as possible, and to
preserve peace, and avoid any outbreak of feeling, I cautiously kept my own
counsel. Rumors however were again spread about by malcontent rivals, that the
saints had better be cautiously on their guard; with respect to me, for that I
intended neither more nor less than to bring about a division in the Church. It
was to allay the feeling that such reports might excite that I preached the
notorious, so called, "spiritual wife" sermon, a discourse so modified however
as to be perfectly consonant with my own feelings, and entirely unobjectionable
to the pure principles of morality and religion. I had another object in this
which was to expose to the light the principles of men who delighted to practice
in private that which in public they strenuously deprecated. The talk however
still continued 'look out,' 'look out,' and efforts were still made to render my
position as disagreeable and unhappy as possible. I still continued on in the
consciousness of the purity of my motives, and did not reveal my wounded
feelings even to my mother, though all the time the malevolence of my rivals was
aiming shafts at me, by spreading tales even so far back as my very boyhood, in
connection with my brother Joseph, things which had been passed into oblivion
long, long ago. -- Furthermore, so strong was the spirit of prejudice that
brethren and sisters were even advised to go to others instead of to me to
obtain their spiritual blessings.
A libelous article was published by John Taylor, on my Patriarchal office, which
reached my mother's ears and occasioned her much mental trouble, and loss of
rest. To such an extent was her mind affected that she sent to find me, and when
I entered her room, she exclaimed, "My son, my son, you are alive yet! In a
vision I saw you in a room under the guard of enemies, and awoke fearful of some
sad result." A singular coincidence with the very situation in which I had been
placed, but which had been kept entirely secret from her.
From this time the Saints may understand that the proceedings of those who had
assumed the authority were kept entirely hidden from me. The disposition of the
Temple funds, counseling with regard to the affairs of the church, I have had
nothing to do with. Other men have been sought out to act in my place, without
the thought of waiting for "dead men's shoes." All these things combined
together served to convince me that a conspiracy had been entered into, to
disrobe me of my power, and I learned that all the quorums of the church had
agreed to sustain Brigham Young by their votes and influence, as the perpetual
head of the church, and sole control of its matters. That the church funds have
been misapplied, I have no hesitation in asserting, for of necessity I have been
made acquainted with the fact, that several houses have been filled up with
women who have been secretly married to Brigham Young, H. C. Kimble, and
Willard Richards -- women with little children in their arms, who had no means
of support except from the tithing funds.
And now brethren, I leave it to you to say what shall be done? My counsel is
that you at once stop tithing; further my sincere and earnest advice is that the
brethren locate themselves in all large branches of the church throughout the
United States, remembering that America is the land of Zion, the land promised
to the seed of Joseph. Furthermore let the brethren content themselves by
building up plain and comfortable meeting houses for the worship of the Lord,
until we can [inhabit] the temples we have built, and let all honest saints
remain at their homes, and not be led astray by false hopes and promises, either
to California or elsewhere. I am told that the plans of getting the tabernacle
canvas was all concocted in secret, and with the ultimate intention of
appropriating the same for the construction of tents to be used in traveling.
What think you now my brethren of "Russia Missions?" None so holy as these men,
yet nothing too knavish or underhanded for them to perform.
In noticing the claims of Brigham Young to superior power and authority, I would
here observe that I heard my brother Joseph declare before his death, that
Brigham Young was a man, whose passions, if unrestrained, were calculated to
make him the most licentious man in the world, and should the time ever come,
said he, that this man should lead the church, he would certainly lead it to
destruction. What, my brethren, I would ask you, are the claims of Brigham Young
to the keys of the church, above the rest of the Twelve? They are keys which
Joseph never conferred on Brigham Young, nor was power ever given to him to lead
the church in his place as his successor. The church is hereby warned against
any such pretensions, as little Joseph, the son of Joseph Smith is the lawful
heir to the officer, being the oldest son of the deceased prophet. I was present
with Joseph at the last council that was held previous to the Twelve and others
going on their electioneering campaign to the east and various other parts of
the United States; it was at this time that I receive my initiation into the
highest priesthood lodge, was washed and anointed, and clad with the sacerdotal
robe of pure white, and ordained to be priest and king, and invested with all
the power that any man on earth ever did possess; power entitling me to preach
the gospel, to bind up the kingdom of God on earth, among all nations, and
people of every tongue. In consequence of these endowments and ordination
received from under the hands of Joseph, I hold as much power and as many keys
to seal and bind on earth, as can possibly belong to Brigham Young; this power
was conferred equally on all the Twelve, and not therefore bestowed on one. The
brethren must understand, too, that Brigham Young holds the presidency over the
eleven men by age merely, and not by any legitimate authority, neither has he
any superior keys; and the saints will bear in mind that a presidency over
twelve men, admitted out of courtesy to age, does not make a man president,
prophet, seer revelator, and perpetual head of the church, over a whole dynasty
of people, to the exclusion of the lawful heir, the heir by blood and by
lineage. Brethren, let my true position be known to you; reflect and you will
clearly see that Brigham Young is not lawfully or legally the prophet or head of
the church, and that to claim such a right is usurpation and an act of tyranny;
it is robbing the innocent -- the widow and the fatherless. Further, the saints
are informed that the old pioneers, fathers and founders of this church of
Christ in this last dispensation, namely the Smith family, must and will stand
at the head, as leaders of this dispensation in time and in eternity. According
to our book of covenants, the priesthood must be handed down from father to son.
Again, the position of the "Twelve" is defined in the same book, as merely a
"traveling high council" to open and make known the kingdom abroad, and not as a
local presidency. Since the death of Joseph and Hiram, the church has never been
organized, although the materials have been all on hand. Its present condition
is that of a headless body. It cannot be perfect until there are three
presidents. It is just as needful that the church have all its members, with a
head to govern it, now as in the days of Joseph, or many years ago.
Temples therefore reared up, and endowments given, by usurpers, or by a headless
body, can be no other than imperfect. And is not probable, I would ask, that
Temples, Nauvoo Houses and other buildings, however richly wrought and
gorgeously and sumptuously furnished, such palaces may be reared up in
wickedness, by means of cheating and defrauding the poor, by keeping up secret
combinations for robbing and plundering the Gentiles -- a Gadiantan Band --
altogether contrary to the book of Mormon, how, I would ask, can it be expected
that the Almighty will bless or suffer to prosper. How, I would ask, can it be
expected that Divine endowments can be given in such houses, or that God will
ever bless such a priesthood or such a people. It is this secret combination
that has concocted the California expedition, and that are the present ruling
authorities of Nauvoo, and the assumed directors of the church, to whom
thousands are looking for their endowments. Mark me, many and honest saint will
bitterly rue they ever followed the advice of such counselors, and the more
especially should they wander with such men into the wilds of the forest, and
there become, as they assuredly would, slaves, yea even more, a prey to the
beastly passions of tyrants, deprived altogether of the sweets of liberty and
the freedom of speech. I heard Brigham Young say not long since, and the remark
made my blood run cold, that, the man that did not comply with the measures
established by them in that land his head should come off, or at all events none
should return to tell their tales. These men will tell you stories of peace and
plenty, but I warn you to believe them not; they will tell you of a land of
liberty, and call it the "land of the free, and the home of the brave," they
will talk of raising a standard of freedom for the oppressed, and tell you, you
will enjoy liberty, sweet liberty; they will tell you all these things and much
more, till once they get you within their grasp. Then, my brethren and sisters
you will be robbed by them of all that is virtuous and good; also of your
property, and if need be, even of your lives.
Less than five or ten years will reveal the sad tale of the utter ruin of all
that engaged in this venturesome and hazardous expedition. No matter my
brethren, what may be represented to you as boastful perfections and imaginary
beauties and qualities, of the self-styled "Archers of Paradise," or "Lions of
the Lord," and their building temples in the moon, or in the dark and deep
wilderness, thousands of miles away from all the inhabitants or civilized life.
All such fanciful notions must necessarily fade away like the airy visions of
heathen worshippers, to sink and rise no more; yes, like the crumbled ruins of
decayed and burnt up cities -- or like the "golden coin" hid up in the corner
stones, or like the deposited parchments of ancient days, declaratory of the
greatness of certain self righteous men, seen in Heavenly visions, or more
properly in the mental wanderings of filthy daylight dreamers, with their one
hundred and one temples; all such things must come as far short of the truth of
an eternal reality, as will the power of the evil one in dispossessing the
righteousness of God, and possessing the kingdom for ever. Let the Elders
understand this, and proclaim against it, in the fear of God, and thus save the
souls of men from ruin. Follow no such spirits, my brethren but follow such men
as Hyram and Joseph, Peter and Jesus, and all such spirits as do justice, in
that respect the rights of all men, and especially of the widow and the
fatherless.
It is astonishing indeed to see the religious chicanery and hypocrisy of those
men. In the first place Adams comes on east, bearing letters from Willard
Richards and the Council of Nauvoo, announcing the deaths of Hiram and Joseph
Smith, to the scattering "Twelve" with advice to me not to return at present to
Nauvoo, for fear of increasing the excitement; thus by my absence enabling them
to use all efforts, to get the Church bound up to Brigham Young, as its
president; the rest of the Twelve resigning all their power into his hands, and
thereby rendering themselves powerless.
Thus they thought to get a dig at me, having the bishops ready to say "amen!"
with a police bound by covenants and oaths to protect the said Brigham Young, as
the president and head of the church, and to carry out all his measures. While
this Brigham Young was pampering the church with the idea that although little
Joseph was the rightful heir to the priesthood, and office of his father as
prophet, seer, and revelator, that it was not prudent to mention this for fear
of the little child's life. This was the talk to me, and was one reason why I
made the declaration of my satisfaction, still being anxious to believe these
men honest. At another time I spoke of the church being without a head, three
Presidents, etc., etc., but such observations were treated with lightness and as
being of no consideration. And although the matter was dropped for a time, I
still heard and saw, and every day's proceeding convinced me, that something was
radically wrong.
The impression that B. Young was the successor and had even more power than
Joseph, that things prospered better, etc., etc., was spread about in all
directions. -- And to complete this man's reign of power, there was adopted, as
I have before alluded to, the system of spiritual wifery, which was entered into
secretly: and directions given to John Taylor and others to proclaim on the
stand that all saints should call on Brigham Young for counsel notwithstanding I
was by right a counselor of the church. It was, my brethren, in this way, that
the cords were drawn tighter and closer. Men's wives and daughters were secretly
married at night-time to this Young, H. C. Kimball, William Richards, and
others, and, in the dark night, were attending the secret lodges, until most of
the "Seventies" were thus sealed and bound under a cloak of adopting children
into their kingdoms.
All these measures were profoundly secret, and the actors were bound to protect
the noble fathers and lords. In addition to this every exertion was made to
ordain every one in the shape of man, and induce them to join the "Seventies"
and thus become adopted "Brighamites." As soon as they had been induced to take
the step, they soon found a reason for being no longer Smithites. Still while
all these iniquitous proceedings were going on, it was the common practice for
these wicked plotters to boldly and blasphemously proclaim before people, in the
presence, too of hundreds that have been "sealed up" to them, that such a
doctrine was false, and he that practiced it was a scoundrel and the woman that
admitted it no other than a harlot.
I declare to you, my brethren, that I heard John Taylor proclaim this on one
occasion, so vociferously as almost to turn him black in the face, while in a
day or two afterwards he was seen sneaking through a garden, to get into a house
by the back way to visit his "spiritual wives."
These have been the proceedings at Nauvoo for the last five months, these have
been the practices in contradistinction to professions. The very doctrines they
would teach and practice in secret, they would make use of to ruin, before the
public, those who would not become their servants and their slaves. And now, my
brethren and sisters, I again call on you, and especially on those, if there be
any, who still remember the claims of little Joseph, and who have still respect
for the memory of the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum, who can still sigh when they
think of their deaths. I call upon you, I say, to come out of this Brigham
Young's power, and to denounce his claims and pretensions, for be assured, they
are not of God. Discard, my friends, all such hypocrisy and secret works, all
such deeds of darkness. For Gadiantan Bands, secret combinations to murder, and
plunder the gentiles, and trespass upon other men's rights, by discarding the
marriage contract, can do nothing else than establish licentiousness, and
corrupt the mortals of the rising generation. From all such abominations I
proclaim myself free and independent, and I implore my friends again and again,
especially those of the Smith family, to fly from this sink of iniquity and
abomination, and assist in reorganizing the church of God on the old and pure
gospel of Mormonism, and in accordance with the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and
the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Bear in mind my friends that all this I
speak from the deepest feelings of my heart, as the brother of the murdered
martyrs, and the representative of the remaining remnants of the Smith family.
It is now more than eighteen years that I have borne the storms of a persecuting
world, in the firm and confident belief of the Mormon religion, as taught and
practised by my brothers Joseph and Hyrum, and by my father, ever since the
hiding of the golden plates from which the book of Mormon was translated. And to
be told now that I am to have no control over the church of Christ, but that it
is to be controlled and counseled by others, is not only palpable and gross in
justice, but wicked in the sight of the Lord. It is my intention to appoint, in
due time, a conference for the consideration of these and all other matters, of
which due notice will be given to all.
I ought to have mentioned in a former place, that on one occasion, I heard
Brigham Young say, on the stand, that he was glad Alvine Hodge was killed, and
that he considered those who would follow the assassins even to the Mississippi
river, were neither more nor less than fools, and that he hoped all such men
would "run against just such snags." That in the territory of Iowa, murderers
had been hanged and he knew it, though he did not think proper to tell his
hearers how, he knew it. And he said further that it was far better for Alvine
[sic] Hodge to die, than to live any longer in sin, for that he might now
possibly be redeemed in the eternal world. That his murderers had done even a
deed of charity for that such a man deserved to die. This as I before observed
was stated on the public stand, and I leave the public to estimate the spirit in
which they were made, and to draw their own conclusions as to whose counsel, and
by what hands, the Hodges met their death, and their brother Alvine murdered in
the streets of Nauvoo -- the victim dying in this noble lord's door-yard.
Another matter may not be omitted, namely: that Brigham Young, John Taylor, and
Willard Richards with the appointed bishops have assumed the publishing of the
Church Documents, the Book of Covenants, and also Joseph's private history, as
their own property entirely regardless of the rights of the Smith family as
therewith connected.
Again, in addition to all this assumption of power they have combined themselves
into secret lodges, councils, etc., where they concoct all their plans unknown
to the common people of the church, out of this have arisen the whitling and
whistling societies for disposing of strangers, and the beastly annointing of
all who oppose their plans. With this council I am told, the Indians hold a
correspondence, and men are frequently rent to colleague with them. Some three
or four are now on a visit to the western tribes. Of late, one of their number
of the name of Dunham, died among the Indians; he went by the name of "Black
Hawk," and was known by that cognomen among many of the Mormons. On the company
to which he belonged returning to Nauvoo, a portion of them were sent to the
east, for the purpose of raising men for a general campaign among the Indians,
to be entitled 'secret braves.' The names of these men can easily be had. The
circumstances under which I left Nauvoo are such, that I feel it a duty thus to
lay them before my friends and brethren. I did not leave that place too soon,
for the very day of my departure it was whispered to me that a secret plot was
already concocted for taking away my life.
The saints then, will see from the foregoing, that although it was my privilege
to act as counselor to the church, and as patriarch over the whole church, in
the place of my brother Hyrum, a fact, with regard to right, which had been over
and over again admitted, as the brethren must all well remember. But now how
have things changed? All the acts of those who have usurped the power have been
most illiberal and uncharitable towards me, and the most flagrant outrage of
rights as well as the breaking of sacred covenants have plainly shown their
treachery and deceit.
All these things combine with their secret combinations, I conceive to be ample
cause to induce me to disfellowship such men, and to denounce all their
measures. Deprived of the right of acting as counselor of the saints during the
last summer, I have been obliged to sit down in silence, and permit iniquity;
anarchy and oppression to go on unrestrained. I feel as though I would even now
shrink from the task of exposing these matters, were it not for the promptings
of duty, and a hope that good may ultimately result -- I leave the event with
God While I write to you, my brethren, the feeling that I have been wronged and
abused, is struggling for the mastery. With full confidence however, I leave it
to my friends, and the friends of justice to say, whether or not, after all the
labors of my father's family, of my brother Joseph in particular, to build up
the church of Christ, after all the sacrifices made by them, and the privations
and persecutions endured by them, I leave it, I say, to all feeling and honest
hearts, to pronounce whether or not men who never saw or knew Joseph Smith,
until all such sacrifices have been made; should assume the privilege of casting
off the Smith family, and depriving his lineal successors of the right to teach
and direct the church and correct its evils. Such a course of proceeding, and by
a band of men, too, whose deeds would make "the very heavens blush," and the
honest in heart to quake, were they fully exposed to the light. -- Even while I
pen these remarks to you I fancy I see the care worn visage of my poor old
mother, broken down, as she is and almost worn out with the accumulated troubles
of years. I see too, in fancy, three sisters, with their husbands, struggling
hard in the midst of poverty; relatives, my friends, who have endured the
contumely of the world, and who have had to brave the storm of persecution from
the first, in peril, in wretchedness, and in want. To think, I say, of all they
have gone through, and that now they should be deprived of all honor and station
in the church, have no word of controlment in the affairs of the church, and
that those who did seem to have a valor, should be now shut out, cannot possible
appear to the brethren as anything else than acts of ingratitude and
illiberality. My poor old mother has witnessed (it was not enough) the burial of
him who was the partner of her life, of my poor father, the good old patriarch,
but his departure to the grave has no effect on the feelings of these usurpers
of power, nor has either the melancholy martyrdom of her two sons, my brothers.
I feel, brethren, as though I were alone among thousands, and my griefs have
remained hidden within my own breast, lest they should disturb the peace of a
parent almost within her grave. I have borne these oppressions and wrongs until
I feel as though they had eaten into my heart like a devouring worm, and wasted
my life away for lack of peace, of rest, and of hope. Night and day prayed I
that the bitter cup might pass, but the thought will obtrude itself, of all that
has been done, and ungratefully repaid, to my mother, my brethren, and my
sisters. I cannot but think of the thousands they have fed and clothed, and of
the awful storms of persecution they have waded through, and of the threatenings
of death they have boldly faced, in order to build up the church, that now
should be imparting spiritual life to millions of souls. I cannot but solemnly
think, too, that she who was the mother of the prophet should now, in these evil
times, be ridiculed on the public stand. And by the very men over whom she has
acted as a mother in the church. These accumulations of sorrow have been to me
alone beyond endurance, and my brethren, must pardon any evidence of weakness.
Pardon, however, need not be hatred for telling simple and plain truths. "Vincit
omnis veritas," is an old and just motto, "truth conquers all things," and
respecting it there cannot need excuse. I anticipate nothing more or less than
the hatred of these men to whom I have referred in the foregoing remarks, the
vials of their wrath will undoubtedly be poured out on my head, and the
bitterest anathemas altered against me, to injure and misrepresent my character
and motives. But these things will not be done by any fair and honorable means;
drowning men, as saith the proverb, always snatch at straws, and this will be in
regard to these matters. By vile means will they seek to accomplish their vile
purposes, or as the poets say: "Crowns won by blood by blood must be
maintained," and that "the God of Justice sanctifies no evil as a step towards
good." "Great actions cannot be achieved by wicked means." Treachery and deceit
have been the game played by these men until they have congregated around them a
large body of people to Nauvoo, bound by covenants, promises, and secret oaths,
to such an extent as to prevent them from breaking off or leaving these men. It
is this by treachery and deceit, that their purposes have to be maintained
Notwithstanding all these things, however, let the storm be ever so rough, I am
fully prepared for the worst. By the help of God, I shall outride the tempest.
Their mercy or their pity I solicit not; I look upon them as a disorganized
body, without power to save, curse, or damn. Without power, also, to "cut off"
Their acts, like wicked spirits, (for as such I regard them) will do only to be
numbered with such like spirits in hell; and their deeds of cruelty and acts of
injustice will assuredly sink them deeper and deeper in impenetrable darkness
forever, unless they repent and restore all that they have taken away from the
innocent. Not even a prayer of the murdered victims they have so much gloried in
shall be theirs, and the candlestick shall be removed. There is, my brethren,
not the slightest cause whatever why the church should have so long remained
unorganized, and to be, as it now is, a mere headless body; the causes, however,
from the foregoing statement, must now be plainly evident; it is usurpation,
tyranny, and wickedness of the blackest dye, that have occasioned it all. Let
the brethren read the prophets, and there they will plainly see that Samuel, the
prophet, was ordained while he was yet only a child, as was also the prophet
Noah. For the truth of these remarks, I refer you to our book of covenants, on
lineage, ordinations, etc., etc. Even children were named, and their work and
destiny appointed them, by the angel of God, while they were still unborn. It
appears evident to me that when, hereafter, souls wake upon heaven, or the
eternal world, it will be found that God did not lie, when he declared that in
the posterity of Joseph all the nations of the earth should be blessed. And if
Joseph does not frown upon those who profess that they are carrying out his
measures, while at the same time they are robbing his son of his lawful
inheritance, then I have but a poor idea of human justice, or of the moral
virtues of the angels in heaven. To digress once more, be it remembered that
John Taylor fancied he had done a brave thing when he published his false
notions and misstatements with regard to my patriarchal office, at a time when
he knew I had not the power of defense, in consequence of the rich and liberally
installed virtues of the Nauvoo police. Poor simple man! "Christ did not confer
the keys upon his brothers, but gave them to Peter!"
So he did, but why? Because he was of the royal blood no doubt. But why, Mr.
Taylor, had you not read that Christ was of a branch of the house of Israel of
which branch nothing was said concerning the priesthood? And again, it was not
expected that Christ's priesthood should come through the lineage of his mother,
but from God. Hence the saints will notice the difference. Joseph Smith
inherited his priesthood by lineage, he being a descendant of Joseph, who was
sold into Egypt, and the same priesthood is continued from father to son -- as
was, also, my patriarchal office inherited from my father and brother Hyrum.
And now, brethren, permit me to say, that so long as the sun, moon, and stars
perform their successive revolutions, so long both on earth and hereafter, shall
I have faith in the doctrine of legal descent, lineage & blood. And the 'Twelve'
might as well claim to be my father and mother, as to claim to be the authors of
my patriarchal priesthood, an office for which I return no thanks to any one on
earth, but only to my Father in Heaven. It is an office to which I shall lay
claim to the day of my death. It is upon such principles that I take my ground,
and hold myself in readiness to meet any fate at the bar of God. The Twelve did
not ordain me one of their number, nor decree my lineage in the Smith family,
and I shall never suffer myself to be controlled by Brigham Young or any of his
coadjutors. It was from a love of peace, my brethren and sisters, and from no
other motive, that I have delayed the publication of these remarks. I determined
to await till order and quietness were restored to Nauvoo, being unwilling to
inflame a wicked and unhallowed mob, to distress the Innocent and unoffending. I
well know that there are hundreds of honest Saints, of good and virtuous, and
noble spirits, in the city of Nauvoo, respecting whom I hope and pray that they
will canvass these things in their minds and snap asunder their present yoke of
oppression, and strive to secure to all a just recompense of what is due to
them.
God knows I wish to do right and to see the church prosper; to this end I have
labored for years. My only desire now is that my friends be calm and devote
their minds to the cultivation of the spirit of kindness; to do good to all, to
deal justly, and to love mercy. The doctrine that the gentiles are a prey to
devouring fire, and under the wrath of God, shews nothings but a malignant
spirit, the very reverse of the feeling of the Holy Being that died for us on
the cross. Let the saints content themselves in different bodies in the
different states, and build churches and school houses, for the edification and
education of themselves and children, and thus become a delightful people, clad
with Gospel grace.
And now may the God of peace and abundant mercy abide with all the faithful. May
He be present with all the honest in heart, and may He deliver the innocent from
all fear, and prompt the pure-minded saint, to come out, and assist in building
up the kingdom as it was at the beginning. That Zion may put on her beautiful
garments, and see no more the wasting and destruction of her borders. Let the
feeling of the heart be to bury every weapon of death, and learn war no more.
Ever and anon, my friends and brethren, you will hear from me again. In the mean
time permit me to assure you that I am in all sincerity of heart and singleness
of purpose your affectionate and devoted brother. Also your earnest
fellow-laborer in the gospel.
WILLIAM
SMITH,
One of the "Twelve," and Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints.
PROCLAMATION OF BILL SMITH.
But few productions have
appeared, in the history of Mormonism, that have been sought for with more
avidity than the extraordinary Proclamation of Bill Smith, which we publish in
today's paper. It is a document, which taken in connection with the testimony,
previously elicited, establishes beyond a doubt, the utter depravity of the
Mormon Leaders and the dangerous nature of the secret combinations existing in
Nauvoo.
In relation to the author, Smith, we have but little to say. He is doubtlessly
actuated, in this expose, by selfish and interested motives, and were it
not for the fact that he has been virtually stripped of power in Nauvoo he, in
all probability, would never have appeared before the public.
Smith has the reputation of being a man of candor and generosity, and were it
not that he has been so long subjected to the corrupting influences of
Mormonism, we should have some confidence that he was really actuated by a
desire to expose iniquity.
Notwithstanding we can give Smith but little credit for his motives, we yet
believe his statements. The composition bears, on the face of it, the evidence
of its truth. There is nothing about it except its religious matter that is
overstrained or improbable; but it is a plain narrative, corroborating the
statements which have been so repeatedly made by seceders from the Mormon
Church.
There is one thing about it which we do not like and that is his opposition to
the California Expedition; still, we think, it is highly probable that Smith
will be confirmed. If we were called on to give advice to the Saints, in
relation to the best course for them to pursue, we would say: First; Hang the
Twelve, the Bishops and the City police, and then scatter through those
communities, which, in the late difficulties, expressed so much sympathy in your
favor.
Note: William Smith first printed his "Proclamation" as a broadside or a tract,
at Galena, Illinois, in an edition of 500 copies, a few days prior to its
publication in the Signal's as a reprint. No doubt the reprint reached
many more readers than did William's original notice.