D. A. PARSONS by D. A. PARSONS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 17, 1908

D. A. PARSONS

By D. A. PARSONS

Mormonism—No. 2

D. A. PARSONS

Deception

JULY 12, 1843, Joseph Smith claimed that he received a revelation authorizing polygamy. But before this date a few members of the Mormon Church had been guilty of the practise. This fact being whispered about, much scandal was created, but the imputation was strenuously denied in public. And in an address delivered in England (as reported in 6 Mil. Star. 22), Mr. Pratt, one of the “twelve apostles,” said:—

“Beware of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, as first introduced by John C. Bennett, under the name of ‘spiritual wife’ doctrine. . . . It is but another name for whoredom, wicked and unlawful connection, and every kind of confusion and abomination. Should any elder or member come unto you professing to hold any such doctrine or practise, either secretly or publicly, you may be sure that he is not of God; . . . for know assuredly that no one has been authorized to teach, practise, or introduce any such doctrine in any branches of the church, neither is there any such doctrine known, held, or practised as a principle of the Latter-day Saints.”

This official and “apostolic” denial was published in England two years after the revelation authorizing polygamy; but they now confess on oath that

it was secretly taught and practised by them at that very time. So much for their official veracity.

It was the doctrine of having more than one wife that the statement quoted above condemns; and a man who lives with more than one wife is a polygamist. Therefore the Mormon Church, in 1845, condemned polygamy as a vile and wicked practise; and that being its true nature then, it is its true character today.

In a desperate effort to evade this conclusion and the charge of deception, they now claim a difference between their doctrine and polygamy as taught by John C. Bennett; but this is only a shallow quibble based on “Mormon Authority.” Both doctrines taught polygamy, and in denouncing the one they condemned the other. The facts are simply these: When the denial was made, rumors were afloat in Great Britain that Joseph Smith had sanctioned polygamy among certain of his followers, and these rumors were working havoc among his English converts. Something had to be done, and done quickly. So the leaders denounced John C. Bennett for teaching polygamy, and also for saying that Joseph Smith had taught the doctrine to him; and in thus denouncing Bennett and his polygamy, they were able to deceive the English public, leading it to believe that polygamy was neither taught nor practised in the Mormon Church.

More Deception

A copy of “Doctrine and Covenants,” published in England, in 1849, six years after the revelation authorizing polygamy, is open before us, and from it we learn that the Mormon Church was still deceiving the English public. In proof of this we take the following from Section 109:—

“Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry.”

That this was a deliberately planned deception is now evident from the admission of their prophet, seer, and revelator, who testified on oath as follows:—

“I undoubtedly knew of its being taught to certain individuals at Nauvoo in 1841 and 1842.” (See page 302, Record in Case 516, Cor. Ct., app.)

Deception formed no part of the character of the meek and holy Jesus, and there will be no occasion to impute it to those who obey him. Any church that resorts to falsehood to avoid the results of her evil course is thus doubly marked not of Christ. Knowing the general trend of Mormon theology, we were surprised to read in their “Hand-Book of References,” page 91, the following:—

“The religion of the Latter-day Saints consists of doctrines, commandments, ordinances, and rites revealed from God in the present age. They are not taken from the Bible, but nevertheless are in complete harmony therewith.”

What possible object could they have had in making such a declaration? The utter untruthfulness of the last portion of the statement has already been seen, and will be further proved.

Another theory of Mormonism, antagonistic to the spirit of Christianity and revolting to the followers of Jesus, is that—

Christ Was a Polygamist

In “Journal of Discourses,” Vol II, pages 79-82 are devoted to an argument to prove that Christ was not only married, but was also a polygamist. This sermon was delivered by Pres. Orson Hyde at the general conference held in the Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City, Oct. 6, 1854. On page 81 President Hyde asks himself the following question:—

“Then you really mean to hold to the doctrine that the Saviour of the world was married; do you mean to be understood so? And if so, do you mean to be understood that he had more than one wife?”

Now note his ingenious answer to this question:—

“When Mary of old came to the sepulcher on the first day of the week, instead of finding Jesus, she saw two angels in white. ‘And they said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?’ She said unto them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord,’ or husband, ‘and I know not where they have laid him.’”

On page 82 President Hyde continues:—

“We say it was Jesus Christ who was married [at Cana], to be brought into the relation whereby he could see his seed before he was crucified. . . . I do not despise to be called a son of Abraham if he had a dozen wives; or to be called a brother, a son, a child of the Saviour, if he had Mary, and Martha, and several others as his wives.”

It seems that this doctrine of Mormonism thus boldly launched created considerable stir in the public press, for we find in another officially published sermon, delivered March 18, 1855, President Hyde making the following statement:—

“I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said in my lecture on marriage at our last conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee; that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives; and that he begat children.”

Although this doctrine has been repeatedly proclaimed by Mormon prophets and leaders, and published with their official sanction, yet their president recently swore before the Senate Committee of the United States that they did no such thing. Following is the senator’s question and Mr. Smith’s reply:—

“Senator Overman: Let me ask a question for my own satisfaction. I have a little pamphlet which states that you teach that our Saviour was a polygamist. Is that so? “Mr. Smith: We do not teach any such doctrine. We simply teach the historical fact that Jesus Christ descended through a line of polygamists from David to Abraham.”—Sworn Testimony before Senate Committee, page 215.

Such disclaimers are modest samples of the official “Scientific Aspects of Mormonism.” Their doctrines and sworn denials are only two sides of the same medal.

Divinity of Christ Denied

This Nicolaitan sect does more than to accuse Jesus of living with two sisters as his wives at the same time. See Lev. 18:18. It denies his very divinity. Having just stated that Adam is the only god of Mormonism, Prophet Young continues by saying that Adam begat Christ by the natural laws of procreation. These are his exact words:—

“The question has been and is often asked who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary. . . . I will tell you how it was.” “When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father?—He is the first of the human family.”

Near the end of this sermon, Prophet Young said again: “Now remember from this time forth and forever that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.—Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, pages 50, 51.

We would finish the quotation last given, but it consists of language which it would not be proper to put into print. Enough has been given to prove that the god of Mormonism is not the God of Christianity, nor is the Mormon christ the Christ of the Scriptures.

Asheville, N. C.