Mormonism against itself

Front matter

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Preface

PREFACE

In the winter of 1904- 1905, I made the acquaintance of a very estimable man in character, and who was at that time a member of and elder in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which organization has its headquarters at Lamoni, Iowa. This elder, Mr. M. R. Scott, Jr., of Wirt, Ind., belonged to the Quorum of Seventy, and proved to be interested in the discovery of the truth at whatever cost. The result of our conference led him to make an investigation along some lines indicated by me, which investigation led him ultimately to a change of church affiliation. The formal step of renouncing his former relationship and accepting the new, was taken on the sixth day of April, 1905, on which date the conference of his former people was in session. Although he had not attended this conference, he was nevertheless, as in former years, assigned a field of labor, which work, because of his change in church relationship, he was, of course, disqualified to accept.

Soon after this, the exact date is not known, but I believe it was in the early part of May of that year, Elder Columbus Scott, a cousin of M. R. Scott, Jr., came from Lamoni, Iowa, presumably to remonstrate with, and, if possible, to reclaim, his apostate cousin, or, failing in this, to cut him off from the church. The sequel shows that he was not able to do the former, and, so far as my information goes, he has not attempted in a regular way to accomplish the latter. The church regulations, as I am* vi MORMQNISM AGAINST ITSELF

advised, allow an apostate to give his reasons for his apostasy ; fearing the results upon the local congregation of such a meeting, it is possible that this extreme action has been very wisely deferred by the authorities.

When Columbus Scott came into the neighborhood, very naturally I went to hear him preach, and, incidentally, to make his acquaintance. Right early it developed that we had some differences of religious views between us, and it was finally determined, after a few days, that the most desirable way to compose these differences would be to give them a public airing. Accordingly a debate was arranged, which was to continue over a period of eleven days, during which time Elder Columbus Scott defended two affirmatives : the first known as the "church proposition," in which he affirmed that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is identical with the church of Christ as established by Christ and his apostles; the marks of agreement were -'^entity in doctrine, ordinances and organization ; and his second affirmative declared that the Book of Mormon was of divine revelation. I also had one affirmative in which I insisted that the church to which I belonged is the church of Christ in fact and is identical in doctrine, ordinances and organization with the church as established by Christ and his apostles.

The propositions were framed by me. When they were presented to Mr. Scott, he returned them to me with an amendment, changing the phraseology from "identical with" to "in harmony with the Old and New Testament Scriptures." I demurred from this amendment and stated that the church of Christ is not a compound of Judaism, Christianity and paganism, but was the church of Christ. I inferred from what I had heard him say in his sermons that his church is the church of Christ and

PREFACE vii

I wanted him to prove it. With the wisdom of this course Mr. Scott finally agreed, and so the original statement stood.

The moderators chosen were D±. Wm. H. Stocker, M. D., Wirt, Ind., chairman; Elder S. W. L. Scott, of Coldwater, Mich., as moderator for his brother, and the late D. H. Bays, of Woodward, Iowa, as my moderator. As a discussion, it was not without interest and incident locally, and what occurred was probably lacking in giving this debate any distinction. It was "revealed" that victory rested on our side, or to quote Joseph Smith, Jr., where he testifies to what Martin Harris saw, "at least it was to me," and the disputants left the scene of word-fighting, having satisfied themselves and their friends that their work had been well done. It is worthy of note, that in the Mormon community where the discussion was held, there has been the direct apostasy of another elder who had been prominent in the work, the total inactivity of another who had formerly worked strenuously for the church, while the congregation itself has been in a moribund condition ever since.

"As we go to press" the journalist would say, we find in the Saints' Herald of Feb. 5, 1908, a letter written from Wirt, Ind., the place where the debate was held, this little item of news, from an elder who has been sent into that community to resuscitate the church. He says : "I am now here, preaching in the Saints' Church near Wirt, using my charts to illustrate the gospel story. Am so far organist, as well as doing all the preaching. Nice, large, attentive audiences are in attendance. A fezv Saints here, under the leadership of our worthy brother, J. J Boswell, are striving to keep the zvork alive under adverse circumstances. This is where William Marshall, Richard Scott, J. D. Porter and L. F. Daniels were once promtviii MORMONISM AGAINST ITSELF

nent ministers and missionaries, but left the church. Brother Marshall now preaches for the Baptist Church, and Richard Scott for the Christian Church, in neighborhoods adjacent to this branch. But we are grateful that we find a few still determined to remain in the work, and some outside appear to be not far from the kingdom" (the italics are mine). This little bit of news is refreshing in contrast with that fulsome eulogy that they are wont to bestow upon their successful conduct of a debate.

This volume is not a history of that debate, but the material used in it was for the most part gathered during the weeks of preparation for the debate. It is true that much has been gathered since, but the major part was first used as occasion called it forth in that discussion. There is little for which credit is asked for its marked originality. I have gleaned from every source available such information as will make clear the fraudulency of the Mormon claims. Due credit has been given in loco for all borrowed material where its authorship has been known, while special acknowledgment is here given to the suggestions made by the late D. H Bays. During the debate, Mr. Bays was for a number of days prostrate with sickness, but he had with him books which, supplemented by verbal suggestions, did much to help an inexperienced debater to win this battle with the Mormons.

This man (Bays) was for many years a member of the Reorganized Church, had himself conducted a number of discussions for them, and personally stated to me, a suggestion which I now firmly believe, that the strength of the Mormon position was always in the weakness of its opponents. During the discussion, lack of time forbade an examination of all references that he then gave me, but the leisure afforded in the two or more years intervening has permitted the investigation to be made.

PREFACE he

Grateful acknowledgment is likewise made of the signal service rendered by M. R. Scott, Jr., the innocent cause of the discussion. Especially valuable was his aid along the line of furnishing documentary evidence on controverted topics.

The Mormons affect to court investigation ; I have complied with their wishes. A distinguished American general is credited with the statement that "war is hell;" we have meant this to be — for Mormonism. I hold that their notions are erroneous ; I have tried to refute them. I believe that the whole scheme is wicked ; I have sought to expose it. A foolish disregard for the menace of Mormonism is suicidal, hence I have tried to meet them at their strongest points. It has committed crimes in the name of religion and deserves to have its mask removed. If, as they claim, Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, he should have a hearing; if he is not what he claims to be or what is claimed for him, he should be silenced. If their system is divine, it deserves acceptance; if it is of the earth, earthy, it should be so branded. This I have attempted to do.

The phrase, "the menace of Mormonism," is more than mere alliteration — it is a concise statement of a fact. Scattered over our nation are not less than twenty-five hundred Mormon missionaries who claim to be converting to Mormonism as many as twenty thousand of our people annually. The daily newspaper is the faithful chronicler of their inroads upon our institutions. There seems to be a timeliness in the appearance of a work such as this purports to be. That there is an abundance of material scattered through many volumes, much of it well written and useful, we acknowledge, yet we are not aware of the existence of the single volume that contains for the polemic as much valuable matter as is here presented.

x MORMONISM AGAINST ITSELF

This is not an expression of conceit; if there were but the one volume, the need for this would not be so apparent, but the absence of even one justifies the time and effort devoted to this.

A word of caution is not amiss to the man who for the first time comes face to face with these men who are schooled in the art of public discussion. Do not feel that you have done your entire duty when you have called a Mormon a polygamist. He may be that, and he may not, but he is more. He stands for a disease of which polygamy is only the symptom ; back of him there is a system that made polygamy possible. Especially will you find this caution timely when you come to deal with an elder of the Reorganized Church. Understand, he claims no relationship to the Utah people and will join you in your condemnation of polygamy. The wholesale condemnation of polygamy with nothing else to follow it will let you down with these people, and hard, too.

Another word: Do not delude yourself with the belief that the Mormons do not know the New Testament. They know it, and know it well. Indeed, they are not qualified to present Mormonism until they have learned what the New Testament has to say upon a given topic. When they seek to present the claims of Mormonism they always open the way with the New Testament, Their work consists in harmonizing the peculiarities of their doctrines with the tenets of the New Testament. Your opponent will spare no pains to have present with him the best help that his institution affords, and this is exhausted only by the entire resources of his organization.

This volume is a sincere attempt to give assistance in the overthrow of the error. If there is any strength in the utterances contained in this book, the reader will be able to discover it without having it pointed out. The

PREFACE xi

arguments herein presented have this to commend them : they have been tried in the heat of battle and have not been found wanting. It is too much to hope that the last word has been spoken, but that the reader has now before him much that he will find invaluable to an understanding of this heresy, may be confidently claimed.

Samuel W. Traum.

Richmond, Ind., January, 1909.

Table Of Contents

Page

Title-page i

Dedication iii

Preface V

Table of Contents xiii

Chapter I

Mormonism : What It Is. The charge of persecution — The "prophet" compared to Jesus Christ — Truth's inevitable conflict — An apology for using offensive appellations — Their use justified — Mormonism not a mission to Gentiles — A definition of Mormonism — The singular interest in the study of the questions involved — The cardinal points of Mormonism — "The miracle of Mormonism''' — The secret- of its strength — An appeal for a united church.... 21

Chapter II

The Book of Mormon : What It Is. The mission of the Book of Mormon — Its grand truth — A weak vindication — A historical summary — God's provision for having Book translated — Testimony of Willard Chase — Trial in Chenango County, N. Y. — The "prophet" proved an impostor — What Whitmer knows of the translation — A dilemma 36

Chapter III

The Book of Mormon : Its Witnesses. The testimony of the "Three" — The testimony of the "Eight" — A Mormon estimate of its value — A terrible alternative — Is this God's way? — Are the witnesses to be believed? — "An immense conclusion" — Were these witnesses sincere? — Is there stronger reason for steadfastness — "Tit for tat" — All died outside the Mormon Church — What did Martin Harris know? — Sidelights on their history — Whitmer's rexiv MORMON ISM AGAINST ITSELF

affirmation — Did Cowdery reaffirm? — Did Harris reaffirm? — An acceptance of the alternative offered \y

Chapter IV

The Book of Mormon : Its Translation. A marvelous work and a wonder — Conflicting descriptions of the proceedings — Was it correct in every particular? — SmitSa safeguarded at every point against error — Contrary doctrines produced from the Book of Mormon — Two thousand changes in the Book of Mormon — A product of man's weakness, not of God's wisdom — How far was the translator accountable? — Was the printer to blame? — A remarkable perversity — Was God a Yankee? — The use of the King James translation of the Scriptures — Mormonism's loss by revision 62

Chapter V

The Book of Mormon and Hebrew Prophecy. Prophecy a Mormon paradise — The Mormon position stated — Charles Thompson's book suppressed by Young — Pratt's position — Not Ephraim, but Manasseh — The "stick of Ephraim" — A peg that the Mormon can not pull with his teeth — Another Mormon stronghold — An examination of it — Is Professor Anthon a subject of Hebrew prophecy? — Harris never said it — The Mormon position indefensible and fails for lack of proof 73

Chapter VI

The Book of Mormon a Modern Production. The Book of Mormon a history — Is it a real history of a real people? — The test it must meet if it is true — Alexander Campbell's review of the Book — The history of its people as shown by its early pages — Where did they make their first stop when migrating? — The sea of Irreantum — Many trips to the mountain — The trip by sea — Did they land in America ? — If so, where is the proof? — Is there a river that empties into the Red Sea? — The topography of the country adjacent the Red Sea — The topography of the country adjacent the Persian Gulf — What kind of ore did Nephi use? — Where did he get it? — The "Author and Proprietor" of the book shows his ignorance 86

TABLE OF CONTENTS xv

CHAPTER VIT.

The Ethnology of the Book of Mormon. The problem stated — The theory not a new one — Theory of Spanish origin — Adopted by Thorowgood — Kingsborough rejected by Short — Theory two hundred years older than Smith — Kingsborough and Book of Mormon both wrong — The weakness of argument by analogy — Short's summary of the Book of Mormon — "A pretentious fraud" — Mormon "scrap doctors" — Dellenbaugh quoted — A letter from the Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution — Palgrave the pessimist — A change of front on the question of America's origin — Livingston Farrand quoted — The Morris K. Jessup expedition — Some insurmountable difficulties — Beadle's disposal of the theory of the Jewish descent of the American Indian — The conclusion inevitable 99

Chapter VIII

The Philology of the Book of Mormon. Lamb's linguistic argument — "Were the plates Egyptian?" — The languages employed by the people of the Book of Mormon — The ethnological value of the study of languages — A philological necessity — The languages of the Americans primitive and unique, not similar and derived — One new language or dialect annually — Some interesting figures for Mormon mathematicians — The conclusion 113

Chapter IX

The Book of Mormon and the Religions of Ancient America. The antiquity of worship — The glory of the Mayan civilization — The religion of the Jaredites — The Nephite religion — Were these people Christian or idolatrous, which?— The argument from analogy — Evidence for sun-worship — What Columbus found — The Book again the antiquarian 126

Chapter X

The Book of Mormon and Domestic Life in Ancient America. The boast of Mormonism — Pratt's bald assertions — The assertions tested — Iron and steel — Far-fetched proof — What do archaeologists have to say? — Testimony xvi MORMONISM AGAINST ITSELF

submitted — Domestic animals — What the Nephites found — What the Jaredites found — Are the Book's claims historical? — Letter from the United States National Museum — A word concerning geological epochs — The facts collated and deductions made — The Book's modernness established 135

Chapter XI

The Mormon Priesthood. A modern Ishmaelite — The challenge accepted — The Presidency and Priesthood — The priesthood distinguished — A series of queries — The unchangeableness of God — The antiquity of the gospel — The process reversed — The bestowal of the priesthood — The Mormon rigmarole — The crudeness of the Mormonic conception — The purpose of Christ's priesthood — The office is non-transferable — The "Fathers" quoted — Mormon against Mormon — Whitmer's criticism commended. . 153

Chapter XII

The Mormon Priesthood (Continued). A favorite text — The purpose of a "call" — An attempted vindication — A practical test — Can the Mormon demonstrate his call by his teaching? — Another practical test — Do they hear a voice? — The Aaronic priesthood "conferred" — Who ordained Smith and Cowdery? — The first apostles called by a committee — A poor selection — Rigdon supplanted — A "body" without a "head" — The new bond of union — The voice of the people higher than the voice of God — The Yellowstone conference — The work of another committee — A roll-call of the "apostles" — A very correct conclusion 163

Chapter XIII. •

The Mormon Priesthood (Continued). From Jew to Gentile — From Gentile to Jew — The Mormons' next move — The church rejected — Authority and church organization not inseparable — The order of the priesthood — The New Testament church and the Mormon nondescript compared—Where duties of priesthood are defined, according to Kelly — The money test — "The counterfeiter is abroad Apostles do not by their presence determine the genuine-

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ness of the organization — The Mormon cure-all — The Mormons and the Baptists — "What is fair for the goose is fair for the gander" — The elder the highest office in the church 177

Chapter XIV

The Mormon Priesthood (Concluded). The due process of law — Has Kelly the "marks" of a genuine coin? — The proposition constructively stated — The purpose of a witness — A witness allows of no succession — Was the gospel message confirmed? — Apostolic succession of truth versus apostolic succession of men — Blair versus Kelly — Mormon contradicting Mormon — New Testament not sufficient — The inconsistency explained — Charles Thompson with Blair — The insufficiency of Mormon literature — Smith and Rigdon, not the Lord, the authors of the doctrine — "The counterfeiter is abroad in the land" — A final statement 188

Chapter XV

The Book of Doctrine and Covenants. A historical note — The opening of a dispensation — A poetic description — A more prosaic utterance — The opening of a stone box — A four-years' probation — Martin Harris' appearance on the scene — Joseph's first attempt at prophecy — The lost manuscript — Translation in duplicate — The Book of Commandments — The Book of Doctrine and Covenants — The revelations were changed — W'hitmer quoted again — The coming of Cowdery — "Thrusting in the sickle" — An infallible rule for judging of the correctness of a revelation — The new policy adopted on account of the lost pages of manuscript — Did John die? — A confusion of dates — Finding a parchment — Baptism of Samuel Smith — W 7 hat Whitmer has to say concerning this question — Smith a poor historian 200

Chapter XVI

The Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Continued). The incident of Joseph Knight — An exhibit of all the Lord's paraphernalia — An eventful day in April, 1830 — The question of re-baptism — An "exquisite" revelation — Joseph an xvlii MORMON ISM AGAINST ITSELF

exception — One revelation that was not changed — "The Elect Lady" — Hiram Page and the "seer-stone" — An embargo on Oliver — The incident of T. B. Marsh — A valuable acquisition — The inspired translation — An answer by return mail — Westward, ho! — But a "revelation" first. 215

Chapter XVII

The Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Continued). Smith and Rigdon move to Kirtland, Ohio — Zion was the goal — The introduction of the office of bishop — A lesson in pistisopathy — Prophecy concerning "Zion" and its miscarriage — John Whitmer, historian — Priesthood introduced — A trip to Independence, Mo. — An organization of forces and distribution of offices — While the cat's away the mice will play — Sidney's first and second efforts as historian — Home again — Prophet's removal to Hiram — ■ The publication of the Book of Commandments — A uniform of tar and feathers — Whitmer on the claims of the prophet and his priesthood 226

Chapter XVIII

The Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Continued). Another trip to Independence — The alleged poisoning of the prophet — D. H. Bays' demurrer — The birth of the present head of the Reorganized Church — Destruction of the printing-press according to Whitmer — Prophet concludes to build the "temple" in Kirtland — A message from "Son Ahman" — Real-estate boom in Kirtland — Three years' test — A promise to "Zion" — Still unfulfilled — Joseph's parable — A military expedition, Baurak Ale, leader — Pratt's confirmation of the undertaking — The transformation of the prophet from a warrior to an advocate of peace — The Fishing River revelation — Endowment first — "Adam's Ale" versus "Baurak Ale" — A blasphemous assertion — The prophet hopelessly condemned as a fraud 238

Chapter XIX

Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a Prophet of God? Joseph no more wicked than other prophets of God — Blair's proposed test — A great and marvelous work — The coming of the cholera scourge prophesied — The series examined and

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answered — Straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel — A prophecy with an "if" — "I and my posterity" — Joseph the "Ephraimite" — Is Joseph the choice seer of the Book of Mormon? — Our conclusion respecting the claims made for the prophet — A final word to the reader 253

Chapter XX

Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a Polygamist? A disputed question among the Mormons themselves — The Brighamite position — The Josephite position — A question of fact — The church's earliest pronouncement against polygamy — Xot two marriage ceremonies — Linn's oversight in the use of the Book of Mormon — David Whitmer the first witness — That famous copy of the Saints' Herald — Kelly's position in Braden-Kelly debate — An accepted statement of the Brighamites — "The Elect Lady" ■ or Brigham Young — An accepted statement of the Josephites — Whitmer's true position — The "editor's" opinion — A Josephite subterfuge — The prophet died by "the visitation of the Lord" — Is that number of the True Saints' Herald reliable ? • 267

Chapter XXI

Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a Polygamist? (Continued). Whitmer again quoted — Kelly's explanation and amendment — A tissue of lies — Sheen, Marks and Whitmer charge the prophet with the crime — Marks never exonerated the prophet — Joseph Smith III. interviews his mother — Was she in position to know? — A mild judgment — The son's convictions — A puerile hypothesis — The son's estimate of his mother's testimony — The demonstration of the method demonstrates the fact — Essential earthly relationship — The son's concession — The impending storm — The harmless enlargement of the priesthood theory — An infamous crown the prophet wears 282

Chapter XXII

Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a Polygamist? (Continued). Dying testimony versus living silence — The direct testimony — Certificate of Lovina Walker — A question of unsupported testimony — Affidavit of Emily D. P. Young — xx MORMON ISM AGAINST ITSELF

An explanation of Mrs. Smith-Bidamon's silence — Oath of Lucy Walker — Dr. Wyl quoted — United testimony of bride and officiating minister — Is it possible that the purported interview is fictitious? — Joseph III. quotes Samuel Smucker — Smucker's real opinion in the matter — The demonstrated weakness of the Josephites' defense — The testimony of Ebenezer Robinson and wife — A second affidavit — Hyrum Smith the evangelist of the pernicious doctrine — Following the "directions" — Willard Smith's conundrum answered 295

Chapter XXIII

Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a Polygamist? (Concluded). Mercy R. Thompson's letter — A poetic justice — Joseph F. Smith's accusation — Was the prophet the author of the "revelation" ? — One fraud descending from another fraud — The Brighamite side of the story — The Josephites' rebuttal — The testimony summarized — Testimony of David Fullmer — Extract of Thomas Grover's letter — Affidavit of Leonard Soby — D. H. Bays' confirmation of the correctness of Gurley's interview — The incident of the Nauvoo Expositor — The historian quoted — The characteristic course of the Saints — SmltYs description of the character of Nauvoo — A just conclusion — The formidable foes — The present status of polygamy — The Reed Smoot investigation — How the manifesto can be violated — An enjoyment of "Abrahamic blessings" — The one man of the nineteenth century so vile was this pseudo-prophet 306

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

i. General Joseph Smith — Autocrat of Nauvoo — Frontispiece.

2. Fac-simile of Title-page of Book of Mormon 36

3. Smith's "Caractors." 82

4. Orson Pratt 135

5. Fac-simile Statistical Report Blank 182

6. Sidney Rigdon 222

7. President Joseph Smith '267

8. Affidavit Lucy Walker Smith 298

CHAPTER I. Mormonism : What It Is

We are now to begin an examination into the claims made for the Book of Mormon, for Joseph Smith, Jr., as a prophet of God, and for the system which is the joint product of the "prophet" and his books. We say we are now to begin such an investigation, whereas it is more nearly correct to say that we are now to record the results of an investigation zvhich we have already made. Frankness compels the admission that the results of our inquiry are not flattering to either the 4 'prophet" or his literature. We are aware that adherents to the Mormon faith frequently testify that God has revealed to them his approval of the "seer," and has shown them that the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants are of divine origin ; but in all candor we avow that he has never seen fit to make such a "revelation" to us. In the absence of like evidence, we withhold our belief, exonerating the Lord of all fault in the delinquency.

In making this contribution to anti-Mormon literature, we realize that we are laying ourselves liable to the charge of "persecuting the Saints, " and of showing ourselves akin to Saul of Tarsus in the days of his bitterness against the people of God ; but this liability to such criticism we hold to be inevitable, when attacking a controverted point in a theological system, and plead this, to condone our offense, that we attack this monstrous heresy in all good conscience, pledging ourselves that, when we are shown to be wrong, to just as ardently defend the "faith" we now seek to overthrow. If to be able to say what we are now to say, that for our present position we have given up home and kindred for the gospel's sake, and that this is an adequate proof of sincerity in the matter, then the "Saints" can not eye with suspicion the motives that prompt to our present endeavor.

When at a later time we come to look upon this "prophet" and his works, and shall be impelled in the interest of truth to comment unfavorably upon his vast pretensions, it shall be done in the full consciousness that he will at once be compared to Jesus Christ. He has already, by them, been credited with having done more (save Jesus only) for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. 1 We shall expect to learn that the orthodox world was" not ready to accept Jesus Christ as a prophet, notwithstanding his just claims to honor as the Son of God. Blasphemously shall it be said that the same is true of Joseph Smith, Jr. We shall confidently look for a defense along the line that. Christ was rejected because he was misunderstood, and for the same reason has the world held aloof from Joseph Smith, Jr. It will be asserted that men could net see the true character of Jesus Christ because of a native prejudice that beclouded the vision, and which was- deepened by the falsehoods and foul aspersions heaped upon him ; that slander and calumny ran ahead to cast the thorns upon his pathway, and that when he died it was a venomous spite that nailed him to the cross. So shall