One Mighty Among Them: The Interpretation of 2 Nephi 3

One Mighty Among Them

The Interpretation of 2 Nephi 3

After consideration of the Interpretation of Doctrine and Covenants 85, the One Mighty and Strong, and a glance at the language of Joseph Smith's last revelation appointing James Strang to be his successor, in the which, the Lord says of James:

Behold my servant James shall lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes of Zion, and my servant Aaron shall be his counselor, for he hath wisdom in the gospel, and understandeth the doctrines, and erreth not therein.

And I will have a house built unto me there of stone, and thee will I show myself to my people by many mighty works, and the name of the city shall be called Voree, which is being interpreted, garden of peace, for there shall my people have peace and rest and wax fat and pleasant in the presence of their enemies. 

The Letter of Appointment not only accurately prophesies the removal of the people from Nauvoo, but also that of the as yet unconceived Beaver Island colony with stunning accuracy and the preservation of Voree, which was never removed. 

Previous to the appointment, Joseph Smith gave James the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands in early 1844, and declared "I seal upon thy head against God's good time, the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood," and afterwards in the same blessing, "Thou shall hold the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood; shalt walk with Moses, Enoch and Elijah, and shalt talk with God face to face."

Hyrum Smith's prophetic blessing upon the head of James while ordaining him elder promised that by him, God would "save the pure of His people."

The Restoration's least convincing prophecy to the unconverted Gentiles of his generation, and to critics from that time to this, remains that which appears in the third chapter of 2nd Nephi in the Book of Mormon. While laying a blessing upon the head of his son, Joseph, Lehi refers back to an ancient prophecy spoken by Joseph of Egypt, which is otherwise lost to scripture, in which he proclaims a great prophet like unto Moses to be born in the last days, whose name was also Joseph and the son of Joseph. This could be none other than Joseph Smith, himself, the translator of the Book of Mormon. Critics point to the utility and convenience of Joseph translating a prophecy about himself, insinuating that he fabricated it along with the entire book.

However, what would be more surprising is if his prophecy also insinuated another to come after him, something a false prophet could not have known. A closer look at the text indicates, not one, but two great prophets of the Restoration. The first is described:

7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.

8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.

9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.

10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

The next verse is often regarded as a prophecy of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to be added to what the gentiles already have in the form of the Bible. However, with the publication of the Book of the Law of the Lord, we learn that the real Torah, or law of Moses, was lost to the children of Israel during the Babylonian Captivity, and the books now believed to be the Five Books of Moses were reconstructed during that period with abstracts of some of the laws from the missing book dictated by the Lord. The Book of Mormon, paraphrasing Isaiah, goes on to say:

12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

This verse has the fruit of the loins of Joseph write first, and then the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write. It is known through revelation that Joseph was of the fruit of the loins of Joseph of Egypt, and James Strang was of the loins of Judah. He "wrote," or published a translation of the Book of the Law given to Moses after Joseph Smith performed his work of restoration with the Book of Mormon. The two volumes, The Book of Mormon and The Book of the Law of the Lord, grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions. 

Seeing the Book of the Law as the Stick of Judah is harder for Latter Day Saints to see at first who already find the bible to be a satisfactory interpretation, but the longer one considers it, the better the Book of the Law fits the bill. Consider that Isaiah and Lehi mention the fruit of the loins of Joseph writing first and then the fruit of the loins of Judah, whereas the most of the scriptures that make up the bible were written first anciently. Although the bible has been translated many times, it never needed a God-appointed spokesperson or prophetic revealer because it had never been dimmed by time as the Book of Mormon scriptures. However, Joseph Smith, a descendant of Joseph translated the Stick of Joseph first in the latter day restoration, followed by James Strang, a descendant of Judah, who translated the Stick of Judah. This more accurately follows the prophecy.

13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;

15 And his name shall be called after me [Joseph]; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.

16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.

17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand [The Book of the Law of the Lord]; and I will make a spokesman for him [James Strang].

18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins [Mormon]; and I will make for him a spokesman [Joseph Smith]. And I, behold, I will give unto him [Mormon] that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman [Joseph Smith] of thy loins shall declare it.

19 And the words which he [Mormon] shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins [The modern Church of Gathering of Israel]. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins [Mormon] had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.

20 And they [The fruit of Joseph's loins] shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren [The modern Church or Gathering of Israel], even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.

21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words [that they are hard for the carnal mind to believe] will I make strong in their faith [by revelation], unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.

22 And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy.

23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book [of Mormon].

After laying out the prophecy of Joseph Smith restoring the Book of Mormon, the very next verse goes further in indicating a second prophet, starting with the word "And" to indicate "in addition to" the choice seer named after Joseph:

24 And there shall rise up one mighty [James Strang] among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.

The words "One Mighty" are the same as in the Lord's prophecy through Joseph Smith recorded in Utah Doctrine and Covenants 85, which can only refer to James Strang. "With exceeding faith" calls us back to the words of the Lord to Strang in the Letter of Appointment, in which he says "The faith which thou hast in the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel." "They" in 2 Nephi 3:23 refers to the gathering of Israel through the work of Joseph Smith, or in other words, the people who accept his declaration and the words of the book. In verse 24, it says One Mighty among THEM, being those who would hearken to Joseph. It thus cannot refer to Joseph himself,  the one who they would hearken to. Here we see the Lord hiding clues in his scriptures so subtle that only one who seeks with the Spirit can find them, as he has promised when he said that only one who seeks will find.

With a deeper analysis, this prophecy is much more remarkable. On the surface it only appears to be Joseph Smith revealing a prophecy about himself and the book he was then translating, albeit it unfolds a new interpretation of an obscure verse in Isaiah. However, it goes on to present details of a book that would come forward by another prophet nearly a quarter of a century later, even a spokesman unto Moses. No mere mortal could plan out events so far in advance with confidence that they would be fulfilled by another with instructions such as these. Thus with that found in D&C 85, we have a a profound second witness of the calling of James J. Strang and through the miracles of Joseph Smith's prophecies.

The Excommunication of Brigham Young and his Eight Apostles

The Excommunication of Brigham Young

And the Eight Apostles Who Followed Him

Including the official notice sent to them and the minutes from their absentee trial

Taken from the Chronicles of Voree

Note: Of the Twelve Apostles, under the erroneous pretense that the Twelve Apostles hold the same keys co-equal with the First Presidency, and as the verse in D&C misunderstood to support this expressly states that only when UNANIMOUS is the Twelve equal in authority to the Three Presidents previously mentioned, though it cannot mean the First Presidency which is elsewhere affirmed to stand above them and whose President must be ordained by angels, Brigham Young would need the support of eleven other members of his quorum, of which he only ever had eight, since William Smith and Lyman Wight immediately rejected him, and John E. Page remained with his only as long as he was claiming a temporary guardianship as president of the Twelve, and left immediately as his intention to put himself into the First Presidency was known. Thus the entire thesis upon which Young ascended is overthrown by the word of the Lord. Thus whenever the Twelve are mentioned during the Succession Crisis, there were only ever nine of them and they are referred to as the Twelve in name, not in number.

High Priest Reuben Miller left here for Nauvoo. By him Pres. Strang sent a Summons to Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, of which the following is a copy:

In the progress of human events a crisis is near at hand when in all human probability the decision will rest with you and your colleagues whether, the people unto whom you and your colleagues act as leaders shall be rejected as a Church with their dead, or shall be accepted of God and bring up those who slept without the Gospel. And whether they shall be moved out of their place at the holy city, and the Temple of our God delivered to the polluting hand of the Gentile or shall be built up in the most holy order preparatory to the coming of the son of God.

I know very well that you were never ignorant of the fact that your Mission as an Apostle is solely to the nations of the earth and not to the Church, and that you hold only the keys of the opening of the Gospel to the nations and not the keys of ordinances blessings and revelations, and finally that you can do nothing, except it be under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, and can direct none but the seventies.

God by the mouth of the Prophet Joseph gave promise to his people when he established them at Nauvoo that if his people would hearken unto his voice, and unto the voice of his servants whom he had appointed to lead them, they should not be moved out of their place. That people have hearkened to the Twelve as man never before hearkened to the voice of Spiritual leaders. If you are the men appointed of God to lead the Church, why is it that they are about to be moved? The desolation and destruction daily falling on the Church are attributable solely to the misgovernment of those who usurp authority therein.

I therefore solemnly admonish and direct you to cease all your usurpations in the Church: to cease to exercise any of the authorities and powers of the First Presidency of the Church, and to go out and preach the gospel to the nations of the earth that have not received it. And I direct and require that you first report yourselves to the Presidency of the Church, at the Stake of Voree and there make satisfaction, for the wrongs you have done as it is said, or in the alternate to answer to charges to be prefered against you, and receive the directions for your further guidance; And give you until the first day of April next to appear there.

Done at Ottawa, January 13, 1846, by

James J. Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

To Brigham Young

Heber C. Kimball

Parley P. Pratt

Orson Pratt

Orson Hyde

William Smith

John Taylor

John E. Page

Willard Richards and

George A. Smith.

Apr 6

Conference of the Church at Voree.

1 On the sixth day of April in the year eighteen hundred and forty six the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints assembled in Conference at Voree.

2 On motion of William Marks, High Priest and President of the Stake at Nauvoo, James J. Strang was unanimously called to the Chair as President of the Conference.

3 On Motion, Reuben Miller was unanimously appointed Clerk of the Conference.

4 Conference prepared for business by singing, and prayer by Elder Marks.

5 On motion of Elder William Marks it was Unanimously Resolved that this Church receive acknowledge and uphold James J. Strang as President of this Church, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator with our faith and prayers.

6 On Motion of Elder William Marks it was Unanimously resolved that we sustain and uphold Aaron Smith as Counsellor to the first President, by our faith and prayers.

7 On motion of Elder William Marks amended on motion of Elder John E. Page it was: Resolved that the case of Elder Rigdon be laid over till the October Conference for final action and in the meantime a delegation be sent to visit Elder Rigdon personally on the matter by appointment and under instruction from the First Presidency, and report the result to the Conference. Two negative votes.

8 On motion of Elder John E. Page it was: Unanimously Resolved that George Miller, President of the High Priests Quorum be required to appear at the October Conference to answer Charges for personal and official misconduct.

9 President James J. Strang proposed the appointment of William Marks, President pro tempore of the High Priests Quorum, which being put separately to the High priests and to the Conference at large and unanimously approved, he was thereupon appointed.

10 The First Presidency presented the Quorum of the Twelve for the action of the Conference upon the question of upholding and sustaining.

11 President Strang exhibited the proceedings had in the case of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, from which it appeared that they had all been summoned to appear before the Presidency at Voree the first day of this month by a summons recorded in this record served in January by Reuben Miller.

12 It also appeared also among many other things that Elder John E. Page had appeared before the Presidency according to said summons, given up all claim in favor of the Twelve as first Presidency of the Church, placed himself under the direction of the Presidency, exonerated himself from any part in many of the transactions of the Twelve in their usurpation and made ample satisfaction for what share he had in those transactions, and the President had decided to receive and sustain him in his place as one of the Twelve.

13 It also appeared that William Smith had acknowledged the Presidency of the Church, disclaimed that authority for the Twelve and made a satisfactory excuse for not appearing according to summons.

14 Upon inquiry it further appeared that Wilford Woodruff was gone on a Mission to England and had been there during most of the irregularities following the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith; and that Lyman Wight was gone into the Missouri Country with an irregular band of brethren.

15 Whereupon it was Unanimously Resolved: A, That we sustain and uphold Elder John E. Page by our faith and prayer and confidence as one of the Twelve; B, That we cordially and affectionately invite Elders William Smith and Wilford Woodruff to take their places in the Church as members of the Quorum of the Twelve; C, That Elders Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, John Taylor, Willard Richards, George A Smith and Lyman Wight be left to the ordinary course of discipline.

16 Conference adjourned one Hour. Afternoon session opened by singing. Prayer by Jehiel Savage.

17 On Motion of Elder William Marks Resolved Unanimously That Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield, Henry Herriman, Zerah Prebsefer, Levi Hancock and James Foster, be required to appear at the October Conference to answer to charges for official misconduct as Presidents of the Seventies and for personal misconduct, and that in the mean time they be suspended of their official functions.

18 On Motion of Elder Charles Thompson: Whereas the organization of the seventies has been involved in general confusion by the appointing of more than thirty seventies instead of seven, as the law of God requires, and of more than two hundred presidents instead of seven, and finally by bringing into the seventies some hundred Elders who are not travelling elders and have never done any of the duties of the seventies, Therefore resolved unanimously That in the opinion of this conference the first Presidency should and ought to organize seven seventies according to the law of the Church, retaining all presidents and members who legally hold their places and supplying the places of others.

19 On motion of H. P. Charles B. Thompson: Resolved unanimously That all persons holding any priesthood in this Church and standing in rebellion against the First Presidency, and the regular authorities of the Church, be suspended of all their official functions and all power of their priesthood during the continuance of their rebellion, and that all acts done by them by virtue of their several offices or priesthood be void.

20 Pres. Strang proposed to appoint James Madison Van Nostrand, Pres. pro. tem. of the Elders Quorum, and the conference concurring therein he was appointed.

21 On motion of Charles B Thompson, Resolved unanimously That in the opinion of this Conference the First Presidency ought to call a council of Twelve High priests for the Trial of such members of the Quorum of the Twelve as have been cited to appear here and have not answered or appeared.

22 The President presented for ordination to the High priesthood Jirah B. Wheelan, Eleazer Davis, Jehiel Savage, James Bartholf, John Gaylord and Marvin M Aldrich, and the vote being called separately on each name, the Conference gave their unanimous voice for their ordination, Whereupon they were severally ordained under the hands of President Strang, assisted by Counsellor Smith, Pres. Marks and John E. Page of the Twelve.

23 Adjourned till one o'clock in the afternoon of tomorrow.

24 Apr 7: The Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment, April seventh in the year eighteen hundred and forty six. Adjourned over till tomorrow at nine o'clock in the forenoon.

25 Apr 8: The Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment, April eighth eighteen hundred and forty six. Opened by singing. Prayer by Elder Younger.

26 The Judgment of the High Council rendered on the trial of Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A Smith, was exhibited to the Conference. It is in the following words: It is adjudged that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor and Willard Richards, and George A. Smith, be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: their Priesthood taken away, and they delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, in the flesh.

Done at Voree, April 7th, 1846.

Marvin M. Aldrich                    Philip H. Buzzard

Charles B. Thompson               William Marks

James M. Adams                       Reuben Miller

Jehiel Savage                            James M Bartholf

J. B. Whelan                             John Gaylord

Eleazer Davis A. W. Smith.

Members of the High council

James J. Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ, and of the Council.

Aaron Smith, Counsellor.

27 On Motion of Apostle John E. Page it was Resolved Unanimously that the decision and judgment of the High Council be approved and sustained.

28 The First Presidency presented James Marvin Adams, Jehiel Savage, and Moses Smith for ordination to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And on motion of Apostle John E. Page, the vote being called separately on each name, the Conference unanimously concurred.

29 The First Presidency presented High Priest Reuben Miller to the Conference as President of the Stake at Voree. And on Motion of Jehiel Savage it was Resolved Unanimously That we receive and sustain him in that office.

30 On motion of Elder John E. Page: A, Resolved Unanimously That this Conference solemnly protest, in the name and behalf of the whole church against the sale of the Temples at Nauvoo and Kirtland; B, That in our opinion the persons professing to act as Trustees in trust at Nauvoo are not legally in office; and that titles to Church property given by them are not good.

31 The First Presidency presented William Marks for the office of Bishop of the Church. And on motion of Apostle John E. Page, resolved unanimously that he be sustained.

Conference adjourned one hour for refreshment.

Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment.

Opened by singing. Prayer by Elder Gaylord.

On motion of Apostle John E. Page

Resolved unanimously that Jason W. Briggs be ordained a High Priest -- Ordination under the hands of Pres. James J. Strang and William Marks Pres. of the Stake at Nauvoo. On motion of Apostle John E. Page

Resolved unanimously that Bishop Marks on his visiting Nauvoo take such measures as he shall deem fit at the expense of the Church for the removal and support of Mother Lucy Smith.

On motion Elder Gilbert Watson was appointed Recorder of the Church by unanimous vote.

On motion of Charles B. Thompson H. P.

Resolved unanimously that all the Priesthood receive new licenses. The President of the Church presented the names of Gilbert Watson & Collins Pemberton to be Presidents pro tempore over the quorums of the seventies.

On motion of Apostle John E. Page, Resolved unanimously that they be appointed.

Jehiel Savage and Moses Smith were ordained Apostles under the hands of the President and Apostle John E. Page.

William Marks was ordained Bishop for the Church under the hands of the First Presidency of the Church.

Reuben Miller was ordained President over the stake at Voree, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Church.

On motion of Bishop Marks Resolved unanimously that this Conference adjourn till the sixth day of October next.

Meeting of the High Priests Quorum at Voree.

April 6: On the sixth day of April in the evening in the year eighteen hundred and forty six, the High Priests Quorum assembled at the call of the Presidency of the Church. The meeting was opened by singing and prayer.

President James J. Strang arose and said he would call the names of the High Priests, and proceeded to organize the high Council pro tempore; according to the order of heaven laid down in the law of the Lord.

The following names were presented before the High Priests Quorum as members of the Council, and acted upon separately and individually, and unanimously sustained.

Marvin M. Aldrich                Jehiel Savage

Charles B Thompson            J. B. Whelan

John Gaylord                        Eleazer Davis

Philip H Bozzart                   Reuben Miller

William Marks                     James W Bartholf

James M Adams                   A. W. Smith

The President then proceeded to draw the names of the above named Councillors to ascertain their numbers and the following was the result,

1 Marvin M Aldrich         2 John Gaylord

3 Charles B. Thompson    4 P. H. Bozzart

5 James M Adams            6 William Marks

7 Jehiel Savage                 8 Reuben Miller

9 J. B. Whelan                  10 James W. Bartholf

11 Eleazer Davis               12 A. W. Smith

The above named Councilors being duly called, ordered, and arranged in due form to act as a temporary High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints according to the Law of the Church and the word of God the Quorum adjourned; sine. die.

Meeting of the High Council at Voree.

April 7

On the seventh day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty six the high Council assembled at Voree agreeable to the call of the President.

The Council was called to order by President James J. Strang.

Opened by singing. Prayer by H. P. Charles B. Thompson.

The following named individuals (members of the high Council pro. tem. pore;) appeared, to wit,

1. Marvin M. Aldrich              2. John Gaylord

3. Charles B. Thompson         4. Philip H. Bozzart

5. James M Adams                  6. William Marks

7. Jehiel Savage                       8. Reuben Miller

9. J. B. Wheland                      10. James W. Bartholf

11. Eleazer Davis                     12. A. W. Smith

The President then arose and addressed the council. After which the following charges were presented by Stephen Bartholf against Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A Smith, all members of the quorum of the Twelve.

Conspiracy to overthrow the order of the Church.

1. By teaching by counsel and commandment that Joseph Smith, President, &c., of the Church was to have no successor.

2. Forbidding to examine and to hear teaching or arguments on that question.

3. By assuming that the Twelve as Apostles, have power to dictate all the affairs of the Church in all the world without a presidency to direct them.

4. By denouncing excommunication and the curses of God on all who disbelieved or examined their pretensions.

5. By driving with threats and violence from the Church and the city of Nauvoo such as would not vote for their measures.

Usurpation

1. Exercising authority which belong exclusively to the First Presidency.

2. Exercising powers belonging exclusively to the High Council.

3. Taking to themselves the powers and duties of the lesser quorums.

4. Assuming jurisdiction over president James J. Strang and Counselor Aaron Smith, over whom they could have none.

5. Selling and offering to sell church property without authority, and converting the same to their individual use.

6. Commanding the church, in the name of God to go into the wilderness.

7. Giving a pretended endowment without authority and altogether out of order.

Tyrannous Administration

1. Disciplining and excommunicating members of the church who are charged with no crime, without any notice of their intended proceedings, and without witnesses or proof of any kind against them.

2. Unlawful collections of tithing.

3. Abolishing the liberty of speech and the press by command and violence.

4. Systematically plundering the church of their property for the use of themselves and their favourites.

Teaching False Doctrines

1. That polygamy, fornication, adultery and concubinage are lawful and commendable.

2. That murder theft and rebellion are justifiable and necessary in building up God's Kingdom.

3. That the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrines and Covenants are of no binding force in the church.

4. That lying, to build up the Church of God, is justifiable, and that secret wickedness will not be brought into judgment; and carrying out those principles in constant practice.

Blasphemy

1. Cursing the prophet of God appointed to be their leader, and all who acknowledge him.

2. Teaching that weapons of war and violence are the preparation of the Gospel of peace, the first principles of the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Separate charge against Orson Hyde

Falsely pretending to a revelation from God.

The following named persons were introduced as witnesses and gave testimony on the trial, towit John E. Page, Jehiel Savage, Collins Pemberton, Isaac Cleveland, Charles B. Thompson, Philip H Buzzard, Moses Smith, John Gaylord, James M. Adams, Samuel Shaw, Increase Van Duzen, Joseph Younger, and Reuben Miller.

Council adjourned one hour.

Council assembled pursuant to adjournment. All the Council present.

After hearing the testimony the three Councilors which were to speak against the accused and also the three that were to speak in behalf of them, arose in there respective orders and addressed the Council; and all agreeing that the charges had been proved, plead for mercy on the one hand, and justice on the other.

Council adjourned one hour for refreshment.

Council assembled pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. Opened by singing; Prayer by Apostle Page.

Counsellor Aaron Smith arose and said, The testimony which has been had before the Council is clear, and in his mind conclusive.

President James J. Strang arose and addressed the Council at length.

And the following is the decision of the Council:

It is adjudged that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: their Priesthood taken away; and they delivered over to the buffetings of Satan in the flesh.

Marvin M Aldrich              John Gaylord

James M Adams                 P H. Bozzart

Charles B. Thompson         William Marks

Jehiel Savage                      Reuben Miller

J. B. Whelan                       J. W. Bartholf

Eleazer Davis                     A. W. Smith

Members of the high Council

James J Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and of the Council

Aaron Smith Counsellor;

And the members of the Council were discharged from further attendance.

For more information on the legacy and valid priesthood lineage of the prophet James J. Strang and the Voree Saints, contact:

Elder Alexei Christopher Matt

GnosticMormon@gmail.com

What is faith, and why is it important?

   There is more than one answer as to what faith is. It means different things to different people. Some take it to mean any belief that is not based upon evidence. If that is your definition, then it is hard to see why it is valuable to God to put us here among untrustworthy people who attempt to mislead us for personal gain often and rests our salvation on a trait that would make us susceptible to them.
   Another definition for faith is confidence, as in “I have faith in you. I have faith in myself. I have faith in God.” If you replace the all the instances of the word “faith” with the word “confidence,” a synonym, the scriptures render us a different meaning.
   On the other hand, there is spiritual knowledge, which is quite different from knowledge derived with one’s mind. Paul writes that these things must be spiritually discerned, which is to say through communion with the Holy Spirit, spirit to spirit. The product of such is revelation, or spiritual knowledge, not just belief. When spiritual knowledge is combined with confidence, one can move mountains, and one is not susceptible to being misled by devils or human beings.

People Say I Should Obey God - How?

From a question on Quora

People tell me I should obey God. How do I do that? In what way? Are there steps or instructions somebody can give me instead of having to look for it in the Bible?

Obtain the mind of God. The sacred inspired writings, not just in the bible, share what God has communicated to prophets throughout the ages. Study and ponder them and allow the thoughts to transform your mind.

The words of Christ, specifically, will tell you how to live your life. These words are transformative. If you begin to think them too, then you have something in common with the man who lived two thousand years ago.

But to get you started, I will answer your question.

Love God with all your might. Another way of stating this is to love your Source, which includes loving yourself as emanating from something divine, and transforming yourself into a being of love, and not of fear. Believe that God ultimately has power, so even if the world appears miserable and chaotic for now, ultimately things will be okay. Another word for faith is confidence, and confidence is power.

Next, love your fellow beings. Every being on the planet, human, animal and plant. Respect life as it comes from the same divine Source as yourself. Even as you recognize your fear and insecurity and save yourself by transforming your mind into the the mind of God by loving Him and the reality He created, so believe in the ability and even destiny of others to transform as well. Serve them, because serving them is serving your God.

All other instructions from God that there are to obey are based upon these concepts. The rest is yours to discover. Scriptures will get you started as you study and listen to what God has inspired others to write, finding the things that apply to you here and now for your development. It will eventually lead you to a connection where you will hear God speak to you personally. Follow it and you will always know what to do.

God bless you with wisdom and knowledge.

The Abandonment of Doctrine: The Lectures on Faith

Under the supervision and direction of Joseph Smith, in a collaboration that included Sidney Rigdon and likely many other leading elders of the Church, The Lectures on Faith were prepared for the School of the Prophets, and subsequently printed and added to the canon of the church in the volume previously printed as The Book of Commandments, but which was also called the Book of Covenants. The Section contained the Lectures "Of Faith" at the beginning in a section called "Doctrine" and contained the Revelations of Joseph Smith in the second section called "Covenants and Commandments." Thus, the book of Doctrine and Covenants was born.

The section of doctrine published as scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants are not the entirety of the lectures given in the School of the Prophets. Rather the section worthy of publication are selected from those lectures. This gives the printed record a higher status as sacred scripture.

 The question of authorship is moot, as Joseph the prophet shared and delegated responsibility for their creation and so doing took responsibility for their content, and edited and reviewed their publication. He writes, "During the month of January [1835], I was engaged in the school of the Elders, and in preparing the lectures on theology for publication in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, which the committee appointed last September were now compiling," History of the Church 2:180.

In 1921, the schism of the church that followed Brigham Young in the Succession Crisis, which had grown into the largest branch of the Restoration movement, removed this section from the Doctrine and Covenants, which, without changing the name, effectively returned it to being a book of commandments only.

The second largest schism, The Community of Christ, also removed this section, along with many other sections, on the theory that they had not been officially presented to the church for a vote, and could therefore not be in the canon. 

While a sound practical theory for any organization burdened with being "official" the practical effect and error of this approach is essentially that creed and canon are oppressive and the safety of regulatory and democratic quality control is misleading. That while the church in one particular year can vote a revelation into the book, this can have no binding on people of subsequent generations for the same reason the vote was needed initially in a general conference of the church rather than a special committee. Each of us is free to discover and sustain for ourselves any revelations or books of scripture we wish without the sophistries of a church hierarchy, which admittedly consists of individuals who are spiritually advanced do not consist of individuals who are infallible or all knowing. It is their duty to teach on what they know or have had revealed, not on those things which have not been revealed to them. 

Consequently, the practice is rightly to print or at least promote access to all of the revelations of the prophets and books of scripture and allow each member or investigator to decide for themselves. This objective may easily be facilitated by an explanatory note in the beginning. 

Each of these organizations, without a revelation from the Lord, have removed parts of the revelations and holy scripture of God from the sacred books. Attempts to explain this by assigning authorship to Sidney Rigdon fail because he was a member of the First Presidency of the Church, called and appointed such and also called a teacher in the School of the Prophets under the direction of the prophet Joseph. He was authorized to receive revelation only in that calling and capacity appointed to him by Joseph. He is not found to be exclusively the author, but if he was, what he authored and used in the school was approved by Joseph for publication, and was reviewed and approved and sustained as scripture for this particular book by the prophet. 

We should rather view the acts of these groups and their motivations and explanations as evidence of their apostasy. As efforts to establish a universally accepted creed and canon are hallmarks of apostasy in every era, and as such actions and intentions are never binding on the faithful who take their commandments from the Spirit and not flesh, we may safely ignore them.